WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An unforeseen snag emerged on Thursday in the intricacies of the Gaza ceasefire-for-hostages agreement, with U.S. officials now engaged in efforts to iron out the issue, a U.S. official disclosed. The contention revolves around the specific individuals that Hamas is insisting be included in the list of prisoners to be freed, as relayed by the official. It is anticipated that a resolution will be achieved imminently.
President Joe Biden’s envoy to the Middle East, Brett McGurk, alongside President-elect Donald Trump’s representative, Steve Witkoff, are actively addressing the matter while stationed in Doha alongside negotiators from Qatar and Egypt, the official confirmed. “We are currently addressing these concerns in collaboration with the Israeli government and other regional partners. We remain optimistic that these logistical details can be clarified promptly, enabling the agreement to progress as planned over the upcoming weekend,” remarked White House national security spokesperson John Kirby in a separate statement.
The accord, solidified on Wednesday, is slated to commence implementation this Sunday. (Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
