Biden admin. expects full implementation of Gaza ceasefire by Sunday

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: CNN
16 Jan 2025 19:05

The Biden administration remains confident that the Gaza ceasefire agreement will be fully implemented by Sunday, despite delays and challenges stemming from a lack of trust between the parties.

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Destroyed buildings by Israeli bombardments as seen inside the Gaza Strip from southern Israel, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

The Biden administration is optimistic about the full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement by Sunday, despite delays caused by the Israeli occupation's approval process.

In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer addressed potential challenges in implementing the agreement, stating that complications in such deals are expected, particularly "when there is literally zero trust between the two parties to the agreement."

Finer, however, expressed confidence in the timeline laid out by mediators and stakeholders. "We fully expect the deal to be implemented as described by the president and by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar yesterday, and on the timeline that was described," he said.

"What we're doing now is working through details of implementation."

Finer noted that the US has maintained "very close touch with the mediators" and the Israeli occupation.

Netanyahu claims 'last minute crisis'

Earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that a "last-minute crisis" with Hamas was delaying the approval of a highly anticipated agreement to pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release dozens of captives.

Netanyahu's office stated that the Israeli Cabinet would not convene to approve the agreement until Hamas retracted the alleged recent demands. The Israeli occupation accused Hamas of reneging on certain aspects of the deal to extract further concessions.

Simultaneously, Israeli airstrikes continued to devastate the territory, killing dozens.

Gaza's Health Ministry reported on Thursday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 72 people since the ceasefire deal was announced. Ministry officials noted that this figure included only bodies transported to two hospitals in Gaza City and warned that the actual death toll was likely higher.

"Yesterday was a bloody day, and today is bloodier," said Zaher al-Wahedi, head of the ministry's registration department.

Ceasefire Achieved?

According to The New York Times, the White House acknowledged the concerns raised by the Israeli occupation and confirmed that US officials are actively working to address them.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby also conveyed confidence in resolving outstanding issues. "We are confident that the details Netanyahu talked about will be settled and the implementation of the agreement will begin on Sunday," Kirby told NBC.

On Thursday, Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, announced that efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza had succeeded, with both the Palestinian resistance and the Israeli occupation agreeing to the terms.