A former Israeli intelligence official said Monday a deal that would pause fighting between Israel and Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip and lead to the release of Israeli hostages is within reach and could be signed "in the near term."
The comments by Avi Melamed, a negotiator during the first two Palestinian intifadas, align with remarks by President Joe Biden on Monday after he talked with Jordan King Abdullah II at the White House.
"The United States is working on a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, which would bring immediate and sustained period of calm into Gaza for at least six weeks, which we could then take the time to build something more enduring," Biden said, according to a transcript of his remarks. "… The key element of the deals are on the table. There are gaps that remain, but I've encouraged Israeli leaders to keep working to achieve the deal."
Melamed's comments, in statement obtained by Newsmax, also come a day after Israel Defense Forces rescued two hostages held in the Gaza city of Rafah, near the Egyptian border. The city is seen as the final stronghold for Hamas. There are believed to be 134 Israeli hostages taken from Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack still being held captive in Gaza.
"Both parties are likely more amenable to renewed negotiations," Melamed said. "Hamas [is] living under the threat of Israel's advancement on its final stronghold in Rafah and having been given a two-week ultimatum by Egypt over the weekend. Israel, despite the success of [Sunday night's] hostage rescue operation, has come under fire for the collateral damage reportedly wrought during the daring escape which saw two hostages returned to Israel."
Melamed said that last week, the sides traded drafts. Because of Israel's advance on Rafah, Egypt has given Hamas two weeks to negotiate and implement a deal. Melamed said Egypt does not want Gazans to violate its sovereignty by fleeing Israel's advancement and has reinforced its border to avoid it from being overrun by Palestinian refugees.
"For Hamas, [Sunday night's] Israeli mission also sends the message that Israel is prepared to secure the release of the hostages, either through what Israel feels is a reasonable trade, or through kinetic military operations," Melamed said. "Egypt remains the most potentially powerful advocate with Hamas's Gaza-based leadership because it serves as the gateway to Gaza, controlling the flow of aid and evacuees going into and coming out of Gaza and can potentially limit the flow of people out of Gaza on Hajj during Ramadan."
Melamed said Israel's military is weighing the success of future hostage rescues with an agreement for the release of hostages because rescue missions "present inherent risks to the hostages during the operation."
"All in, it's likely the pressure weighing on both sides, is leading toward renewed negotiations and an agreement that sees a pause in fighting and the release of hostages just over the horizon," Melamed said.
Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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