Report: Gaza ceasefire deal unlikely during Biden’s presidency, according to US sources | Israel-Palestine conflict updates

The Wall Street Journal reports that US officials are skeptical about the possibility of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza before President Joe Biden leaves office in January. Despite ongoing efforts to reach a deal, officials in the White House, State Department, and Pentagon do not believe a resolution is imminent. The main obstacles to an agreement are the number of Palestinian prisoners Israel must release in exchange for each captive held by Hamas, as well as rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. However, publicly, Washington officials continue to express their commitment to working towards a ceasefire. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that 90 percent of a ceasefire deal had been agreed upon two weeks ago, with mediators Qatar and Egypt also involved in the negotiations. President Biden previously laid out a three-phase ceasefire proposal, which Israel reportedly agreed to. The ongoing conflict began almost a year ago, with Hamas launching an attack on Israel, leading to a significant number of casualties and displacements. Despite the challenges, US officials remain hopeful for a peaceful resolution to end the violence in Gaza.

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