White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday the U.S. is “so close to a ceasefire and hostage deal” in Gaza, as President Biden races to secure an agreement on a major foreign policy objective before leaving office in a week.
“Number one, we are so close to a ceasefire and hostage deal, and I think there is a very distinct possibility that we get it across the line this week, before President Biden leaves office,” Sullivan said in an interview with Nexstar Washington correspondent Jessi Turnure.
“I say distinct possibility because I can’t make any predictions or promises,” he added.
An Israeli official told The Hill on Monday that efforts to reach an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and release hostages are close but not finalized. Reuters reported earlier that Qatar had given a final deal to both Israel and Hamas.
“The second thing, and I think this is very important, is President Biden gave us direction to work closely with the incoming team so that there were not different messages being sent,” Sullivan said, referencing President-elect Trump’s incoming administration.
“That there was no gap in a united American front saying, ‘This deal is important, let’s get it done,’” he added.
The president-elect has warned that “all hell” will break loose in the Middle East if hostages that Hamas kidnapped during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel are not released prior to his return to the presidency on Jan. 20.
“Brett McGurk, President Biden’s top Middle East official, has been camped out in Qatar the last several days,” Sullivan said. “President Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, is there with him in Qatar right now. And we are working together to try to generate a deal that will serve the American people, the Israeli people and the cause of peace across the world.”
The Hill is owned by Nexstar Media Group.
Source: The Hill
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