In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the leaders of the United States, Egypt and Qatar called on Israel and Hamas to meet for talks on August 15, an invitation the White House said Israel welcomed.

The three countries, which have been trying to mediate for months, also said they were ready to make a “final bridging proposal” to overcome remaining obstacles to a ceasefire if Israel and Hamas fail to make progress in talks to be held in Cairo or Doha next week.

“There is no time to waste or excuse for any further delay,” said a statement issued by US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. “It is time to release the hostages, initiate a ceasefire and implement this agreement.”

The ceasefire effort has been stymied for months and could be further delayed if Iran launches a major attack on Israel in retaliation for the killing of a senior Hamas leader last month in Tehran, which Iran blames on Israel.

Dennis Ross, who served as a senior Middle East official for several US presidents, said the three-nation call for talks could follow consultations between the US and Israel as well as parallel discussions between Egyptian and Qatari officials and Hamas.

Other Middle East experts say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar may have their own reasons for not reaching a deal but are also under pressure to agree to a ceasefire.

Hamas leaders have found that the high number of casualties in Gaza has worked to the group's advantage by turning much international opinion against Israel.

Quang Anh (according to Wall Street Journal)