Biden Sends Letter to Mediators Urging Pressure on Hamas Ahead of Ceasefire Talks Resumption

by Kim Hyojin

Published 06 Apr.2024 16:01(KST)

Source=Yonhap News

U.S. President Joe Biden (photo) is increasing pressure on both Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas to reach a ceasefire agreement.

On the 5th (local time), President Biden reportedly sent letters to Egypt and Qatar, the mediators of the negotiations, asking them to pressure Hamas to agree to the talks, according to AP and AFP citing U.S. officials.

In the letters sent to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, President Biden urged them to secure a commitment from Hamas to agree to and abide by the negotiations.

So far, Israel and Hamas have attempted ceasefire negotiations several times under the mediation of the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, but talks have repeatedly broken down due to irreconcilable differences between the two sides.

Meanwhile, according to U.S. media reports the previous day, William Burns, Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), visited Egypt again on the 5th to negotiate over hostages and is expected to resume talks over the weekend.

The ceasefire negotiations, focusing on a temporary truce and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, are expected to be attended by CIA Director Burns, Mossad Director David Barnea, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate (GID) Director Abbas Kamel, U.S. media reported.

The White House also announced earlier that ceasefire talks would take place this weekend in Cairo, Egypt. Amid this, during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the previous day, President Biden directly pressured the U.S. negotiation team to strengthen efforts for a deal, stating, "We must do what is necessary to secure the release of hostages."

In particular, President Biden warned that if Israel does not take immediate measures to protect civilians, there could be changes in U.S. policy toward Israel, emphasizing that an immediate ceasefire is essential to protect innocent residents of Gaza.