NBC News quoted informed sources as saying that the administration of President Joe Biden is considering a request by the families of American detainees in Gaza to conclude an agreement with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) that does not include Israel.
The sources added that Biden administration officials told the families of American detainees that they would consider all options, but stressed that an agreement with Hamas that includes Israel remains the best approach.
The sources said that the families demanded, during a meeting with the US National Security Advisor last Sunday, to present options for reaching an agreement that does not include Israel.
The network also quoted American officials as saying that the Biden administration had made initial contacts with Hamas, through Qatari mediation, about 6 months ago, to discuss the possibility of an agreement that does not include Israel.
Initial US contacts with Hamas over an agreement that would not include Israel have yielded no results, officials said.
An American official added to the network that the idea of reaching a unilateral agreement with Hamas is unrealistic, because Washington does not have enough to offer the movement in exchange for the hostages, according to him.
The network also quoted an American official as saying that Washington had not made an official offer to Hamas for a unilateral agreement, because such an agreement is not possible.
Reports in recent days have spoken of Washington’s imminent presentation of a “last chance” proposal for a deal between Israel and Hamas, although John Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesman, has confirmed that there is no timetable for presenting the proposal.
The Washington Post quoted American officials as saying that Washington is planning to submit a final agreement proposal to stop the war in the Gaza Strip.
The sources added that Washington is consulting with Doha and Cairo on the features of a final ceasefire agreement, and that the failure of both parties to accept a final agreement that Washington intends to present could mean the end of the US-led negotiations.
Officials told the newspaper that Washington, Cairo and Doha were working on the final proposal before the bodies of the detained prisoners were found.
An American official also confirmed that the killing of prisoners does not hinder reaching an agreement, but rather should be an additional incentive to achieve it in this final stage.
