A Qatari-Egyptian-American statement urging Hamas and Israel to conclude a ceasefire agreement

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On Saturday evening, Qatar, Egypt and the United States urged Hamas and Israel to conclude an agreement based on the principles announced by US President Joe Biden on Friday.

This came in a joint statement by the three countries, following calls held by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry, and Qatari Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani.

According to the statement, Qatar, Egypt and the United States, “in their capacity as mediators in the ongoing discussions to ensure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages and detainees, called on both Hamas and Israel to conclude an agreement that embodies the principles outlined by Biden on Friday.”

The three countries explained that "these principles bring together the demands of all parties in a deal that serves multiple interests, and would immediately end the long suffering of all Gazans and the long suffering of the hostages and their families."

Doha, Cairo and Washington stressed that "the (potential) agreement provides a roadmap for a permanent ceasefire and ending the crisis."

Earlier Saturday, Blinken discussed in two separate phone calls with his Egyptian and Qatari counterparts the Israel proposal announced by Biden.

Shukry stressed on Saturday that “Egypt supports every effort aimed at ending the Israeli war against the Gaza Strip, reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire, exchanging prisoners and detainees, and ensuring full access to humanitarian aid without obstacles.”

During a phone call he received from Blinken, the Qatari official expressed “the mediators’ hope that the parties will deal positively with the foundations contained in Biden’s speech.”

Blinken also made a phone call with his Emirati counterpart, Abdullah bin Zayed, in which the latter appreciated Biden’s proposals to end the war in the Gaza Strip.

Yesterday, Friday, US President Joe Biden spoke about Israel submitting a three-stage proposal that includes a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of detainees, and the reconstruction of the Strip.

The Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, left more than 118,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and about 10,000 missing amid massive destruction and famine that claimed the lives of children and the elderly.