Sullivan claims agreement on 'basic contours' of captives deal reached

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Feb 2024 18:33

While the West continues to claim breakthroughs in the talks, Hamas has yet to comment.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Washington on Sept. 15 (AFP via Getty Images)

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan informed CNN's State of the Union that negotiators from the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and "Israel" have reached a preliminary agreement on the fundamental aspects of a captives deal during discussions in Paris.

Sullivan noted that the deal is currently in the negotiation phase, and further talks will be conducted indirectly by Qatar and Egypt with Hamas.

Concurrently, Netanyahu, speaking on CBS' Face the Nation, indicated that the outcome of the talks leading to a captive deal was still uncertain. He refrained from delving into specifics but emphasized the necessity for Hamas to put forth "more reasonable demands."

"They're in another planet. But if they come down to a reasonable situation, then yes we'll have a hostage deal. I hope so," he said.

"If we have a (ceasefire) deal, it will be delayed somewhat, but it will happen," he told CBS.

"If we don't have a deal, we'll do it anyway. It has to be done because total victory is our goal and total victory is within reach -- not months away, weeks away, once we begin the operation," he further added.

Meanwhile, Egyptian security sources stated that additional discussions would take place in Doha this week, with intermediaries shuttling between Hamas and Israeli representatives, followed by another round in Cairo. As of now, there has been no immediate confirmation of these plans from "Israel", Hamas, or Qatar.

Hamas has not changed its position in the latest attempt to reach a deal and has provided appropriate solutions concerning the ceasefire, the return of displaced Gazans, the captives release deal, and the complete withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, a source in the Resistance leadership told Al Mayadeen last Thursday.

Earlier this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin said the next phase of the ground invasion in Gaza after Khan Younis will be Rafah, noting that the war on the Strip "will continue till the end."

"We are working to achieve another framework for the release of our abductees, as well as the completion of the elimination of the Hamas battalions in Rafah," Netanyahu said on Facebook.

He mentioned that in the coming week, the Israeli security cabinet would sanction military strategies for Rafah, encompassing the "relocation" of over a million Palestinian civilians who have sought refuge there. The plight of these forced-displaced Palestinians has raised concerns among global powers.

US President Joe Biden has not yet received a briefing on Israeli proposed military actions in Rafah. However, Sullivan emphasized today that President Biden is of the opinion that "safeguarding civilian lives" is crucial.

"We do not believe that an operation, a major military operation, should proceed in Rafah unless there is a clear and executable plan to protect those civilians, to get them to safety and to feed, clothe and house them," Sullivan said.

It is worth noting that Hamas has not yet commented on Sullivan's remarks, knowing that promoting positivities and breakthroughs in the talks have become a strategy by "Israel" and its allies, with many regarding this as an attempt to blame Hamas for the "failure" of the talks, which is often expected to be the case considering "Israel's" intransigence.

'Israel' weaving irrelevant narrative about talks: Hamas official

This is evident in senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mardawi's statements to Al Mayadeen yesterday, confirming to Al Mayadeen that the Palestinian Resistance has not yet received anything from the mediators regarding the Gaza ceasefire discussions in the French capital Paris to assess and build on them.

He made it clear that the Israeli occupation entity is "weaving a narrative of negotiations that has no relevance to us [Hamas]."

Al-Mardawi mentioned that the visit of the head of the political bureau of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh to Cairo did not delve into the details of the ongoing negotiations.

The Palestinian official mentioned that Hamas' delegation to Cairo discussed with the Egyptian officials the issue of breaking the Israeli siege imposed on Gaza to save the people in the north.

He pointed out that "the enemy's attempts to achieve at the negotiating table what it failed to achieve on the battlefield have all failed," underlining that the Resistance will not follow through with any position unless it serves its interests and asserts its rights.