Gaza captive, ceasefire deal 'crucial' for Biden strategy: Axios
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Biden is looking to improve his horrible approval rating and looking for ways to end the pro-Palestine protests on college campuses that have engulfed the nation.
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President Joe Biden applauds at the conclusion of the White House Correspondent's Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 27, 2024. (AP)
US President Joe Biden has been making extensive efforts in recent days to secure a ceasefire and a captive deal between "Israel" and the Palestinian Resistance, Hamas, which he believes is a critical component of a much larger plan at home and abroad, Axios cited US officials as saying.
White House Spokesperson John Kirby stated on Tuesday that Biden is completely focused on the matter, citing that a ceasefire would possibly pave the way for normalization between the occupation and Saudi Arabia, adding that it "has to start with a deal."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that an invasion of the densely-populated Rafah city would take place regardless of whether an exchange deal with the Palestinian Resistance was reached or not, something Biden believes a deal may avoid.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Netanyahu discussed upon meeting in occupied al-Quds on Wednesday efforts to avoid further escalation in Gaza. In this context, the top US diplomat reaffirmed a "clear position of the United States" about "Israel's" potential invasion of Rafah, the Department of State said.
Blinken, while in his Tel Aviv residence, was surrounded on Tuesday by protesting families of Israeli captives held by the Resistance in Gaza, who were demanding that an exchange deal be reached.
According to US officials, a deal and captive agreement may put out other flames in the vicinity, including strikes by Yemen's Armed Forces (YAF) on ships in the Red Sea.
Senior Biden aides said the agreement might also allow the Lebanese Resistance, Hezbollah to retreat from the northern border.
A temporary truce may become permanent, allowing the Biden administration to resume discussions for a momentous mega-deal with Saudi Arabia, which officials divulge may bring Netanyahu to agree to a Palestinian state.
This would not only be a significant victory for Biden who is suffering from an abysmal approval rating for his backing of the Israeli occupation, but his team also believes a ceasefire may help to de-escalate protests on US college campuses.
Axios earlier reported that a new Israeli proposal for a potential captive deal with Hamas involves a "willingness" to discuss the "restoration of sustainable calm" in the Gaza Strip following an initial release of captives on humanitarian grounds, Axios reported two days ago, citing Israeli officials.
New ceasefire proposal includes retreat in Israeli position: Exclusive
The document presented to the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas over a new ceasefire proposal in Gaza included positive points and a retreat in the Israeli position, a well-informed Palestinian source told Al Mayadeen on Tuesday.
The source said that Hamas still needs to verify key issues, especially regarding the ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip.
In addition, the are still contentious points concerning the prisoners' file, which requires more time to reach an agreement, particularly regarding their numbers and categories.
According to the source, Hamas' adherence to its previous demands forced the Israeli occupation to draw back on matters concerning the ceasefire, the withdrawal from Gaza, and the return of forcibly displaced people to their homes.
The source told Al Mayadeen that the movement is still studying the new proposal after the return of its delegation from the Egyptian capital Cairo and is engaged in intense consultations, adding that Hamas is maintaining constant communication with the Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
It can be said that the negotiations' atmosphere is better than before, and there is a retreat in the Israeli stance regarding the withdrawal from Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians, the source concluded.
