The White House is lamenting the collapse of cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas and pledging to keep working with both sides to strike a deal.
“We don’t have a deal, and that’s deeply regrettable,” said White House national security spokesperson John Kirby on Friday. “We still believe that a deal was possible. We still believe, as I said the other day, the gaps remaining can be surmounted.”
Mr. Kirby’s comments came hours after Hamas said negotiations for a cease-fire had collapsed. Israel had rejected some of its proposals, including demands for a permanent cease-fire, complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced people and a prisoner exchange.
“Israel’s rejection of the mediator’s proposal through the amendments it made to it, has brought things back to square one,” Hamas announced in a statement, placing “full responsibility” on Israel for the failure to reach a deal.
The breakdown comes as the latest Israel-Hamas war crosses the seven-month mark and Israeli forces continue to prepare for a ground invasion in the southern Gaza town of Rafah.
Despite the latest breakdown, Mr. Kirby said a deal is possible, but both sides will have to get more serious about hammering out an agreement.
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“It’s going to require leadership. It’s going to require some moral courage and it’s going to require the continued ability to compromise and negotiate in good faith. We’re not giving up on that,” he said.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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