While the world’s attention has focused on upcoming discussions in Alaska to establish a cease fire in Ukraine, a potentially much larger cease fire discussion may be flying under the radar. The United States, led by Donald Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, is trying to set up a meeting to discuss a lasting cease fire to the war that has dominated Gaza since the October 7th invasion of Israel two years ago. Trump and Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, have reportedly had a phone conversation about the possibility of peace talks. ABC News correspondent Jordana Miller is stationed in Jerusalem; she appeared on 710 WOR’s Mendte in the Morning program to discuss the chances that the combatants in the drawn-out war might try negotiating for a cease-fire again.
Miller told host Larry Mendte that the key negotiators all want Israel and Hamas to sit down, and both sides might be willing to capitulate. “The United States, Qatar and Egypt, the mediators for these cease fire deals, are back at it and trying to get Israel and Hamas to return to the negotiating table. So today, for example, the Egyptians are hosting a high-level delegation of Hamas to discuss getting back to a deal. We’re not sure if it’s a partial deal or a comprehensive deal. We know that the U.S. and Israel have said it’s time to pivot to a comprehensive deal, but again, time is of the essence and a comprehensive deal will probably take longer to negotiate at this point. The good news is that there sems to be an effort to get Israel and Hamas back to the table.”
Miller says that while Netanyahu has talked about taking over Gaza to appease his far-right base, he has exhibited some oral flexibility that allows Hamas to discuss peace: “He’s left the door open to return to cease fire negotiations. He has a carrot and a stick, and the stick is ‘We’re going to take over the entire Gaza strip’… and the carrot is ‘Come negotiate now and maybe it won’t be such a disaster for you in the bigger picture’.”
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