“The overriding focus of the meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu is going to be about the ceasefire and hostage deal,” Sullivan said during a briefing at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado.
He emphasized that Biden will concentrate on pressuring Netanyahu to “get this deal done in the coming weeks.”
Since the October 7 cross-border incursion by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals, Israel has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians. Approximately 250 hostages were taken during the conflict, although the group returned 110 captives, and Israel released some Palestinian detainees during a seven-day truce that ended on December 1.
Biden had previously unveiled proposals for a three-phased truce on May 31, and discussions are ongoing. Sullivan mentioned that there are still technical details to be worked out regarding the transition from "Phase 1 to Phase 2" of the ceasefire deal. “We believe there is an opportunity to get it done. We are mindful that there remain obstacles in the way, and let's use next week to try to clear through those obstacles and get to a deal,” he stated, echoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remarks.
Blinken also expressed optimism about the ceasefire negotiations, stating that the U.S. is driving toward the "goal line" of securing an agreement in Gaza, adding, "We’re inside the 10-yard line." However, when asked about his optimism, Sullivan replied, “I have learned the hard way never to use the word optimism in the same sentence as the Middle East.”
He added, “What I will say is that I think we have our best opportunity now that we have had since the last brief hostage deal in November to get to an outcome. It is there for the taking.”
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