Vice President Kamala Harris urged Israel and Hamas to agree to the proposed six-week cease-fire deal put forward by US, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators for immediate implementation.
The plan suggests a 40-day ceasefire in Gaza, where Israel would release Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of hostages by terrorists, similar to the agreement that led to a temporary truce in the Middle East conflict in November.
At a civil-rights event in Selma, Ala., Harris emphasized the need to eliminate the threat posed by Hamas to the people of Israel and called for an immediate cease-fire of at least the next six weeks due to the immense scale of suffering in Gaza.
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“Hamas states its desire for a cease-fire.” “There is a deal on the table,” the vice president stated.”And as mentioned earlier, Hamas must agree to that deal.”
Harris emphasized the urgent need for a temporary ceasefire to release the 134 Israeli hostages in Gaza and prevent a worsening humanitarian situation for Palestinians in war-torn Gaza.
However, Biden has expressed his desire for a cease-fire to start by Monday, but it seems that both Israel and Hamas have backed away from the negotiation table.
According to sources, Israel did not participate in the negotiation talks in Cairo on Sunday.
Hamas stated that it would not approve any hostage exchange until Israel agrees to end the war and withdraw from Gaza.
Hamas’ demands have faced criticism as “non-starters” from US and Israeli officials, yet leaders of the group seem unwavering in their stance.
Harris expressed strong disapproval of the delay in negotiations while highlighting the dire situation in Gaza, referring to it as a “humanitarian catastrophe.”
The ongoing war has led to the displacement of almost all the 2 million Palestinians in the strip and has put food security at risk for over a quarter of the refugees.
People in Gaza are facing severe hunger. The conditions are unacceptable, and it is our duty to take action,” Harris stated, urging the Israeli government to boost the aid going into the territory.
She emphasized the importance of restoring basic services and promoting order in Gaza to ensure that essential supplies can reach those in need.
Harris: US Enhancing Gaza Aid with Airdrops, New Sea Route
Harris highlighted that the US plans to increase aid deliveries through airdrops to Gaza and establish a new sea route for humanitarian supplies.
The vice president’s comments were made ahead of her upcoming meeting with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz at the White House on Monday to talk about the conflict in Gaza.
A White House official informed Reuters that the vice president will address her worries about the safety of up to 1.5 million people in Rafah.
Israel has been cautioned by the US against launching a ground assault into Rafah, the last Hamas stronghold in Gaza.
Israeli officials have been advised to have a solid evacuation plan in place to prevent further civilian casualties.
Israel has announced a delay in its operations in Rafah to relocate civilians to a safer area north of the city.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the offensive aims to eradicate Hamas’ remaining battalions.