Qatar Calls On Israel To Clarify Position On Ceasefire Proposal

Wires carrying comments from a Qatari spokesperson stating that Doha is waiting for a "clear Israeli position" on the US proposal for a three-phase ceasefire in Gaza. US President Joe Biden outlined the plan on Friday, characterising it as an Israeli proposal, which has drawn pushback from some members of the Israeli government.

• Qatari spox say: "Looking for concrete answers from Israel, Hamas on deal," adding "we need to put pressure on both sides to accept deal."
• There is confusion about the state of the proposal with both Israel and Hamas unwilling to commit without clarifying ambiguity on progressing from phase 1 (temporary ceasefire) to phase 2 (permanent ceasefire).
• Axios reports: "Hamas wants to know the deal's commitment to a ceasefire in Gaza will ultimately lead to the end of the war, but Netanyahu is publicly saying he is still committed to continuing the war until Hamas is defeated."
• US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said yesterday: "The only thing standing in the way of an immediate ceasefire today is Hamas," adding he is "completely confident," will sign off on the deal.
• A short time ago Bloomberg noted that Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Hamas, "frowns upon Washington and the West's calls for it to accept [Biden's] proposal on Gaza 'as if it is Hamas who is hampering the deal," and claiming that, "Israel is not serious about reaching a deal in Gaza and is still maneuvering under the U.S.' cover."