On Tuesday, Qatar, the mediator, stated that it was awaiting Israel's "clear position" over a potential truce in Gaza and a deal to free the hostages.
According to foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari, "we have yet to see a very clear position from the Israeli government toward the principles laid out by Biden" and neither party had given their "concrete approval."
"We don't think there is a united stance in Israel regarding this current proposal on the table, based on what we have read and observed from Israeli ministers," al-Ansari said at a routine press conference.
The insider further stated that Hamas, a Palestinian movement, has not yet provided a definitive answer.
He continued, saying, "The process is progressing, and we have been working with both sides on proposals on the table, but we haven't seen any statements on both sides that give us a lot of confidence."
Months of back-and-forth negotiations over specifics for a ceasefire and the exchange of hostages and captives by both sides have involved Qatar, the US, and Egypt.
Nevertheless, a number of in-person mediation attempts have not succeeded in stopping the fighting, with the exception of a seven-day pause that started in November and resulted in the release of over 100 captives.
US President Joe Biden stated on Friday that Israel was proposing a new three-stage plan toward a complete truce, which included the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, in an attempt to rekindle negotiations.
The US president claimed that Israel's three-part approach would start with a six-week phase in which Israeli forces would leave all populated areas of Gaza and there would be a hostage-prisoner exchange.
Next, the sides would bargain for an extended cease-fire, which would endure as long as negotiations were taking place.
According to Biden, the plan's ultimate stage would see the destroyed Palestinian territories rebuilt without Hamas holding political sway.
"We need to be very cautious, but there is momentum internationally, driven by the US," al-Ansari stated.
"As a mediator, we are using our power to ensure that all parties recognize the seriousness of the situation and the urgency of coming to a resolution."
Speaking with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Monday, the US president advised him to push Hamas to embrace the ceasefire agreement with Israel, stating that Hamas was the only thing standing in the way of the agreement. This information was reportedly relayed to the emir by the White House.
Early in May, as Israel started conducting ground operations in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, negotiations came to an end.
Previous mediation arrangements have failed because of Hamas's insistence that any truce result in an ongoing cessation of hostilities, while Israel has insisted that it must be permitted to carry out its military objective of eliminating the Palestinian militant group.
