Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to send a delegation to Rome next week to participate in peace talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Hamas. This decision follows discussions with U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris about potential ceasefire agreements.
During a recent visit to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Netanyahu commented on Harris’s statements regarding the situation in Gaza. Harris had declared that she would “not be silent” about the “tragedy” and suffering of Gazan civilians, urging all parties to reach a resolution. She stressed the need for an end to the conflict that ensures Israel’s security, the release of hostages, and the cessation of suffering for Palestinians in Gaza, while also supporting their right to freedom and self-determination.
Netanyahu expressed hope that the ceasefire talks would progress positively and noted that there had been “some movement” in negotiations due to military pressure. He also indicated that he hoped Harris’s remarks would not hinder the negotiation process.
The conflict, which began with a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 last year, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. The Hamas-run health ministry reports that over 39,000 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel’s military response. Additionally, the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor has requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu and several Hamas leaders on charges of war crimes, which all parties deny.
The upcoming talks in Rome are part of broader efforts to address the conflict. The U.S. is also sending CIA Director Bill Burns to meet with representatives from Qatar, Egypt, and Israel to negotiate a deal aimed at halting hostilities and securing the release of hostages.
Former President Donald Trump has pledged to seek peace if re-elected and denounced Harris’s comments as “disrespectful” to Israel. Trump stated that his administration strongly supports Israel, which included moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, and promoting the Abraham Accords and the “Trump peace plan,” which were met with mixed reactions and were rejected by the Palestinian Authority.
