The Times of Israel reports: “The widely endorsed ceasefire and hostage release deal presented to Israel and Hamas earlier this year is still viable, US President Joe Biden said on Sunday, as Israeli security sources voiced cautious optimism that an agreement could be finalized during talks later this week and implemented days later, despite the Palestinian terror group’s announcement that it would not be sending a delegation.

With negotiations scheduled to resume on Thursday, Biden told CBS during a wide-ranging interview that he believes it is ‘still possible’ for the warring sides to reach a deal that will bring about the release of the 115 hostages held by Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza, and an end to the fighting in the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave.

‘The plan I put together, endorsed by the G7, endorsed by the UN Security Council, et cetera, is still viable,’ Biden said. ‘And I’m working literally every single day – and my whole team – to see to it that it doesn’t escalate into a regional war. But it easily can.’

In tandem with the renewed push for a deal between Israel and the Hamas terror group, the United States has been attempting to deter Iran from striking Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, for which Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility…”