Biden, Trump push for Gaza ceasefire before January 20

2025-01-11 20:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

As President Joe Biden's term ends on January 20, his aides are working with President-elect Donald Trump's team to broker a ceasefire in Gaza. As VOA correspondent Patsy Widakuswara reports, analysts say Mr. Trump's cease-fire ultimatum is unlikely to change the outstanding issues at the negotiating table.

Death and destruction continue to be a daily reality for Palestinians in Gaza, despite the United States pushing for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. President Biden's term ends on January 20.

"We are seeing some progress. Hopefully we will have a prisoner exchange. Hamas is obstructing this exchange. But I think it can be achieved. We have to make it happen," said President Joe Biden.

The US president's team is continuing to coordinate with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. President Biden's envoy, Amos Hochstein, is continuing diplomatic efforts in the region. This week, Mr. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is holding talks with Qatari officials, who are mediators for Hamas.

"Actually, I believe we are working together in a really good way. But it's the president, his reputation, the things he's said, that drive this negotiation," said Steve Witkoff, the incoming US president's Middle East envoy.

Earlier in the week, Mr Trump repeated his ultimatum for a deal that would free Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

"If they are not released by the time I take office, horror will follow in the Middle East."

Analysts say Mr Trump's ultimatum is unlikely to affect Hamas, as the US-designated terrorist group continues to be hit by the Israeli military campaign. They say it is unlikely to affect the outstanding issues at the negotiating table.

The Voice of America spoke with the former American negotiator for the Middle East, Aaron David Miller, who currently works with the "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace" institute.

"The number of prisoners to be released, how many hostages, evidence that they are alive, the location of the live hostages, how many will be released in the first phase [of the ceasefire]? These are issues that have very little to do with the future policy of the Trump administration.”

On Thursday, President Biden hailed the election by the Lebanese parliament of Mr. Joseph Aoun as the country's next president, ending a multi-year government vacuum and a more than year-long war between Israel and Hezbollah./ Voa