International-News

Gaza ceasefire: Hamas calls for revision of clauses, agreement hangs in the balance

Ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel remain in the balance. Meanwhile, Biden extends sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers for 12 months over the situation in the West Bank

When it seems that a ceasefire in Gaza may finally materialise, new difficulties emerge, further complicating the talks. According to the Saudi network Al Arabiya, Hamas has asked for more time to review some clauses of the ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages, before giving a definitive answer. Sources confirm that negotiations are still ongoing.

A Palestinian source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed Agency that the ceasefire agreement had already been reached, but the announcement was delayed due to disagreements over the implementation mechanisms. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly tried to slow down the process by demanding that the Israeli soldiers captured by Hamas be included in the list of 33 hostages to be released immediately in the first phase of the agreement.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden officially extended by one year the sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers, initially due to expire on 1 February 2025. In his note, Biden expressed concern over the increase in violence and forced displacement in the West Bank, calling the situation an ‘intolerable threat’ to the security and stability of the entire region.

Biden also emphasised that these actions undermine US foreign policy objectives, particularly the prospect of a two-state solution, and increase the risk of destabilisation across the Middle East, while also threatening US interests in the region.

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