PNN – The spokesman and coordinator of strategic communications of the White House National Security Council regarding the negotiations to reach a cease-fire agreement in Gaza and the release of prisoners, stating that “we believe that we are close to an agreement”, once again blamed Hamas and not Israel for reaching an agreement.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, “John Kirby”, the spokesman and coordinator of strategic communications of the White House National Security Council, told reporters on Thursday local time about the ceasefire agreement in Gaza: “Undoubtedly, we in the government are disappointed that we have not yet been able to conclude this agreement.”
Kirby stated: the negotiators “are on the verge of an agreement and the percentage of their proximity to an agreement is 90%.”
This spokesman for the administration of US President Joe Biden told reporters: “You call it optimistic.” I call it accurate. “We believe that we are close to an agreement.”
The spokesman of the American National Security Council also said that “the biggest obstacle to the ceasefire agreement is Hamas”, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to insist that Israeli forces remain in the Philadelphia Corridor.
Kirby clarified: killing six captives has made it more difficult to reach an agreement.
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Israel has accused Hamas of killing prisoners last week; A charge that Hamas has denied. Hamas has said that Israel killed them in an airstrike.
The statements of this spokesperson of the American government come while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a conversation with the American Fox News channel: “There is no agreement on the verge of being reached. Unfortunately, such an agreement is not close.”
Netanyahu rejected the reports published in some American media, including CNN, which said that the American government believes that 90% of the agreement has been completed and said: These are completely inaccurate. There is a narrative that a deal is on the table.
A few days ago, the Prime Minister of the Israeli regime, in a meeting with the families of the Israeli prisoners who are kept in Gaza, said that contrary to the claims of the American authorities, an agreement with Hamas is not close.
On Monday, Netanyahu said in a televised interview that Israel is unable to sign a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. He had claimed that such an agreement means that Israel should leave the Gaza-Egypt border area known as the Philadelphia Corridor.
The Prime Minister of Israel claims that Israel must control the Philadelphia axis because Hamas smuggles weapons into Gaza through this crossing.
Israel has started a devastating war against the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023. During this period, 70% of the houses and infrastructures in the Gaza Strip have been severely damaged, and the miserable siege and severe humanitarian crisis, along with the unprecedented famine and hunger, threaten the lives of the residents of this area.
The Gaza Ministry of Health has announced that the number of martyrs of the Gaza war has increased to 40,878 and the number of injured has increased to 94,454.
At the same time, Israel has admitted that after about 11 months of war, it has not yet been able to achieve its goals of this war, which is to destroy the Hamas movement and return Israeli prisoners from the Gaza Strip.