A senior US official has warned Israel that it will face a “heavy price” if a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal is not reached in Gaza.
The official criticized Israel’s stance in negotiations to renew a ceasefire and hostage deal, stating that the US would pursue a regional agreement with Saudi Arabia even without Israel’s involvement.
“If until now they paid the price of not ending the war, today the price will be much heavier for Israel — and not just for the hostages,” the US official said.
The official’s remarks were made during a meeting with families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, and were interpreted as a shift in tone from a traditionally unconditional ally.
The US official emphasized that a truce agreement with the Houthis in Yemen was only a starting point, warning that “if Israel doesn’t come to its senses, even the ‘Deal of the Millennium’ will happen without it”. This statement underscores the growing pressure on Israel to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Meanwhile, the Gaza conflict continues to escalate, with the death toll nearing 52,800 Palestinians killed since October 2023, according to the Health Ministry.
The situation has also drawn international attention, with thousands of Israelis attending a peace conference calling for an end to the war on Gaza and a political settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.