An agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages could be concluded in the near future, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on Thursday, August 22, as reported by Reuters.
The US envoy called on Security Council members to pressure the Palestinian militant group Hamas to agree to an interim proposal agreed with Israel. The proposal, put forward last week by the US, Qatar and Egypt, is in line with a plan outlined by US President Joe Biden in May and endorsed by the UN Security Council in June.
“Israel has accepted the proposal. Now Hamas must do the same. We, as members of the Council, must speak with one voice and use all our avenues to force Hamas to accept the proposal,” Thomas-Greenfield stressed.
The sources say disagreements over the future of Israel's military presence in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners are holding up the deal, a demand Israel made after Hamas accepted Biden's proposal in May.
Read us in channels Israel News Nikk.Agency