US State Department urges finalization of hostage deal in Gaza

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US State Department said Tuesday that it is time to finalize a hostage deal between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, in the Gaza Strip after the deaths of the six hostages this weekend.

"There are dozens of hostages still remaining in Gaza, still waiting for a deal that will bring them home. This is time to finalize that deal," spokesman Matthew Miller said at a news conference. "The people of Israel cannot afford to wait any longer, the Palestinian people who are also suffering terrible effects of this war cannot afford to wait any longer. The world cannot afford to wait any longer.”

Miller said the US will continue to engage with its partners, including Egypt and Qatar in the region, to push for a final agreement in the coming days.

"During talks last week, we made progress on dealing with the obstacles that remain, but ultimately, finalizing an agreement will require both sides to show flexibility," said Miller. "It will require that both sides look for reasons to get to yes rather than reasons to say no.”

Egypt, Qatar and the US have been trying for months to reach an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group to ensure a prisoner exchange and a cease-fire and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

But mediation efforts have been stalled due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’ demands to stop the war.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza following an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

The onslaught has resulted in more than 40,800 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and nearly 94,300 injuries, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.