Former national security adviser John Bolton said he doubted the ceasefire talks were nearing an end after the White House said talks would continue into next week.
An anonymous U.S. official told The Associated Press on Friday that mediators were working to reach an agreement on a ceasefire and hostage exchange.
“The real question is what happens after the hostage exchange, and I think that’s where Hamas and Israel are very far apart,” Bolton said. said NewsNation Friday Afternoon.
“Hamas’s idea of a ceasefire is a permanent one and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, which is synonymous with ‘the end of the war’. For Israel, a ceasefire means a limited period of time – four, six or eight weeks – after which fighting can resume,” he added.
Bolton’s comments came shortly after mediators from the United States, Israel, Qatar, Egypt and Hamas concluded two days of talks in Doha, Qatar. The United States hopes to wrap up the negotiations next week, and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is due to arrive in Israel on Sunday for intensive talks.
But President Biden has been cautious about celebrating too early, saying more work is needed to reach an agreement.
“I don’t want to sound anything ominous, but we’re not there yet,” Trump said in an Oval Office speech on Friday.
A senior administration official said Friday that the White House had presented a “final bridging proposal” that clarified a broader offer it presented to Israel and Hamas in May.
Bolton said the proposal may not be as fruitful a conduit for negotiations as officials suggest.
“What the US, Egypt and Qatar have announced is essentially a so-called bridging proposal, which means that either Israel or Hamas or both will not necessarily agree to it,” he explained.
The United States is seeking to conclude a ceasefire agreement as Iran considers retaliatory attacks on Israel following the alleged assassination of Hamas’ top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran at the end of July.
“I think Iran is very afraid that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel will not be restrained by the United States this time and will launch very severe attacks against Iranian critical targets, including its nuclear weapons program,” Bolton said.
“Iran has to walk a very tough path here, I think that’s the real reason for the delay,” he added, claiming that Iran’s shadow lingers over the negotiations.
Biden first announced his administration’s three-phase plan for peace in the region in late May. His proposal, which includes the return of hostages and a permanent end to hostilities in the area, has been endorsed by the UN Security Council.
