MUSCAT/CAIRO: The Sultanate of Oman has welcomed the joint statement issued by the US, Egypt and Qatar to resume negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a hostages-for-prisoners deal on August 15.
"It is time to bring immediate relief both to the long-suffering people of Gaza as well as the long-suffering hostages and their families. The time has come to conclude the ceasefire and hostages and detainees release deal," US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al Thani said in the joint statement.
The Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued on Friday, stressed the Sultanate of Oman's position on the importance of adhering to what was agreed upon and implementing it without any delay, and called on all parties to resume the urgent negotiations and alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people.
Qatar, the US and Egypt have been mediating for months to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and exchange hostages kept by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
The agreement on the table is based on a plan laid out by Biden in May to end the conflict in three phases, starting with a complete and unrestricted ceasefire of six weeks.
"There is no further time to waste nor excuses from any party for further delay. It is time to release the hostages, begin the ceasefire and implement this agreement," the joint statement read.
The mediators offered to prepare "a final bridging proposal" if necessary, as they urged Hamas and Israel to resume talks on "August 15 in Doha or Cairo to close all remaining gaps and commence implementation of the deal without further delay."
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the joint statement by saying that it would send a delegation to whichever location is chosen for the negotiations on August 15 to "finalise the details for implementing the framework agreement," according to the Times of Israel and Haaretz.
Fears have recently increased that a major war could break out in the region after the recent targeted killings of a top Hamas leader and of a top Hezbollah commander, prompting Iran and its allies to threaten retaliation against Israel.
The UK's foreign secretary called on Friday for Israel and Hamas to "urgently" agree to a ceasefire deal, following a joint statement by the US, Qatar and Egypt calling for negotiations to resume.
"The UK welcomes the tireless efforts of our partners in Qatar, Egypt and the United States," Britain's top diplomat David Lammy said in a statement.
The UAE also urged Israel and Hamas to accept an invitation from the mediators.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday that there needs to be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, adding to international pressure for a truce deal between Israel and Hamas. -- ONA and Agencies
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