PALESTINE

Wed 17 Jul 2024 8:27 am - Jerusalem Time

Miller to Al-Quds: We are making progress in the deal negotiations and are pressing hard for a ceasefire

We seek to resolve the conflict and stop the horrific tragedy of civilians in Gaza
 -The rumored statements contradict what was reached during the negotiations


The official spokesman for the US State Department, Matthew Miller, confirmed that the administration of US President Joe Biden maintains high hope that the outcome of the current negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza will be a fruitful outcome.


Miller said in his response to the question of the Al-Quds.com correspondent regarding this matter and the current status of the negotiations, “We have certainly made progress. We have resolved a number of issues. There were some major divisions between the two parties. We have resolved a number of them, and as the President said, "We have come up with a framework."


Miller added: “We believe that the remaining issues are issues that can be resolved, and we believe that there are practical ways to solve them, and we are putting forward these ideas and trying to reach a solution. But as always, this does not mean that we will necessarily reach that goal. It requires the agreement of the parties.” "On some of these ideas, therefore, we remain optimistic, but also realistic at the same time."


Regarding the question of whether she believes that what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is doing in terms of daily massacres in Gaza, and in retracting a major concession he had made, is actually aimed at thwarting the negotiations? Miller responded: “I will repeat what we heard directly from two of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s senior advisors (at the State Department), which is that Israel remains committed to reaching a ceasefire, and that Israel wants to reach a ceasefire.”


Miller continued by saying: “It is clear that they want to protect their interests; we understand that as part of the negotiation process. But they want to reach a ceasefire and they are committed to these negotiations. As I said, there are some remaining sticking points, and we are working to try to resolve them, and we are committed to trying to do that".


“They (the Israelis) are committed to the proposal that they put forward and that the president described publicly last May 31; they said that publicly, they confirmed it to us privately, and they committed to trying to work toward a ceasefire and to overcome the remaining differences. This work is continuing. It has been continuing here.” Inside our building today."


“So we often see reports outside of negotiations that are pretentious,” Miller said. “The reports that we see from parties involved in negotiations often differ from that. Sometimes you see people making claims to try to take advantage or to try to increase their influence in the negotiations, or for personal purposes.” ".


“We are still hearing directly from Israel that they want to reach a ceasefire and that they are committed to the proposal they put forward. Now, does that mean that they will agree to everything that the other side proposes? Of course not. The same applies to every negotiation, and that is why negotiation is an attempt.” To resolve differences, this is what we are trying to do."


Miller added: “I will say on behalf of the United States that we continue to push hard for a ceasefire because we see the horrific human tragedy that is happening inside Gaza. We see the civilians who are still dying, and we want to resolve this conflict as soon as possible. We want to reach a solution.” A ceasefire, and we want to turn this ceasefire into a permanent calm, and we want to turn this permanent calm into an end to the war and permanent peace and stability.”


He ended his response by saying, “So, I repeat that there are differences that we must overcome over the coming days and weeks, and we hope that we can do so as soon as possible to reach a ceasefire, and we are committed to doing so as a first step and trying to resolve this conflict once and for all.” ".

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Miller to Al-Quds: We are making progress in the deal negotiations and are pressing hard for a ceasefire