WaPo-US Off. Believe Hamas Ldr Backs Deal, But Waiting For Iran Response

In a Washington Post opinion column, David Ignatius writes that, according to unnamed US officials, "U.S. officials think Hamas leader Yehiya Sinwar,[...] favors the deal.[...]But Hamas seems to be playing a waiting game, probably in the hope that Iran or Hezbollah will attack Israel — and thereby transform the battlefield."

• Following the killing of Hamas' political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last month, tensions have been elevated surrounding the prospect of an escalatory Iranian retaliation. This has so far not materialised, with Tehran potentially put off by the US moving a substantial naval flotilla, including two aircraft carriers, into the region.
• The potential for Lebanese Hezbollah to offer retaliation via a massive rocket barrage against Tel Aviv also appears to have receded (for now).
• The article refers to the 'bridging proposal' put forward by the US at last week's talks in Doha. Speaking on 22 Aug, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed “The agreement is very clear on the schedule and the locations of IDF withdrawals from Gaza, and Israel has agreed to that".
• Israeli media reported earlier this week that PM Benjamin Netanyahu said to the families of hostages held by Hamas that Israel would maintain its troops in the Philadeliphi corridor along the Egypt-Gaza frontier and the Netzarim corridor separating north and south Gaza. This would be in breach of the proposal.
• Mediators are set to resume talks later today in Cairo that aim to pressure Hamas into offering a concrete response to the proposal.