US, four European countries support Egypt, Qatar’s efforts to de-escalate tension in Middle East

CAIRO – 12 August 2024: A Joint Statement from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy on the Middle East supported President Sisi and Qatari Emir's efforts to de-escalate tensions and reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.

“We endorsed the joint call from President Biden, President Sisi of Egypt, and Amir Tamim of Qatar to renew talks later this week with an aim to concluding the deal as soon as possible, and stressed there is no further time to lose. All parties must live up to their responsibilities,” the five countries said in the statement on Monday.

The five countries added that unfettered delivery and distribution of aid is needed.

They also announced their support to defend Israel against any Iranian attack or other attacks by Iranian-backed groups, which are being described by the five countries as "terrorists."

The US and four other European countries "called on Iran to stand down its ongoing threats of a military attack against Israel," adding that they discussed the serious consequences for regional security should such an attack take place.

On August 9, 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 response by Hamas, it called upon the mediators to submit a plan to implement “what they presented to the movement and approved on 2/7/2024, based on Biden’s vision and the Security Council resolution, and to oblige the occupation to do so, instead of going to more rounds of negotiations or new proposals that provide cover for the occupation’s aggression and give it more time to perpetuate the war of genocide” against the Palestinian people.

Meanwhile, 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.

Israeli media reported that in recent days, meetings were held between representatives of the Israeli negotiating team and mediators in a third country, during which Israel’s demands included receiving a prior list of the names of the 33 Israeli prisoners- living and dead, who are scheduled to be released as part of the humanitarian deal in the first stage-, and obtaining the right to veto some of the names of the Palestinian prisoners who will be included in the list.

However, Hamas rejected any veto by Israel on the list of Palestinian prisoners, and voiced its absolute opposition to any Israeli presence in the Netzarim axis [a line separates the Gaza City and north from the south of the strip] and any monitoring mechanism for returning the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip.

Additional reporting by Amr Mohamed Kandil