Egypt, Qatar, US leaders invite Israel, Hamas to join urgent Gaza ceasefire talks on Aug. 15

CAIRO – 9 August 2024: The leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have issued a joint invitation to Israel and Hamas to participate in critical discussions on Thursday, 15 August, in either Doha or Cairo to negotiate a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

“It is time to bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families,” a joint statement by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, US President Joe Biden, and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani read on Thursday.

“The time has come to conclude the ceasefire and hostages and detainees release deal.”

The three leaders noted that Thursday’s talks aim to close all remaining gaps between both sides and start the implementation of the ceasefire deal “without further delay.”

“There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay. It is time to release the hostages, begin the ceasefire, and implement this agreement.”

The statement highlighted that this deal is based on the principles outlined by the US president on May 31, and endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735.

In the statement, Egypt, Qatar, and the US have offered their assistance in bridging any remaining gaps to meet the requirements of both sides.

“As mediators, if necessary, we are prepared to present a final bridging proposal that resolves the remaining implementation issues in a manner that meets the expectations of all parties.”

The statement underlined the persistent efforts exerted by the three leaders and their countries’ negotiators over the past months to forge a framework agreement.

They affirmed that this framework deal is now on the table with only the details of implementation left to conclude.

This joint statement follows ten months since the commencement of the Israeli war in Gaza, which has resulted in a devastating toll, with nearly 40,000 fatalities, over 91,000 injuries, the displacement of most of Gaza's 2.2 million inhabitants, and the enclave facing the looming threat of famine.

The war was triggered by a Hamas attack on Israeli communities near Gaza on October 7, during which Palestinian fighters captured around 250 Israelis and foreign nationals.

In November, a prisoner exchange brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US resulted in the release of about 100 Israeli captives in return for about 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel managed to rescue seven captives in Gaza over the past months. However, unrelenting Israeli strikes have led to the deaths of some of the roughly 100 captives still held in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced overnight Friday that Tel Aviv has agreed to resume Gaza ceasefire discussions on August 15 at the request of Egypt, Qatar, and the US.

The statement also arrives against the backdrop of an increasingly turbulent regional climate.

Israel and the US are on high alert for imminent retaliatory actions from Iran against Israeli targets following the recent assassinations of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas political bureau leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran by Israeli forces.

Heightened tensions have been exacerbated by warnings from Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, both supported by Iran and longstanding adversaries of Israel, threatening severe repercussions in response to the recent killings.