Israel, Hamas and Qatari mediators on Tuesday, the 27th of February, expressed caution over progress towards a ceasefire in Gaza, after Joe Biden announced that Israel was ready to halt attacks in the Gaza Strip during the Ramadan, concluding a truce that could be signed as early as next week, reports Reuters.
Biden, on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, expressed hope that a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip would be agreed as early as Monday, the 4th of March, with Ramadan beginning on the 10th.
“My national security adviser tells me they’re close. They are close. They are not finished yet. I hope that by next Monday we will have a ceasefire,” Biden said.
But Qatar, which has acted as the main mediator and is currently hosting both Hamas and Israeli delegations to work out the terms of an agreement, said no significant progress had yet been made and
no final announcement was expected in the near future.
Hamas is examining a proposal agreed by Israel, the US and mediators from Egypt and Qatar at a meeting in Paris last week that would provide for a 40-day pause in all military operations and an exchange of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails for Israeli hostages, an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas.
Two senior Hamas officials told Reuters that Biden’s statements suggesting that an agreement in principle had already been reached were premature, as key issues including ceasefire terms and the withdrawal of Israeli forces remained unclear, delaying a comprehensive deal.
Israel did not comment on Biden’s remarks, but Israeli media quoted unidentified officials as saying that they were surprised by the US President’s comments.
In recent weeks, Biden has been more insistent on a cessation of hostilities. Biden told NBC that Israel risked losing international support if it did not take more steps to spare civilians in attacks.
“Too many innocent people are being killed,” Biden said, adding that Israel is committed to ensure evacuations before stepping up attacks in Rafah.
Since Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on the 7th of October, killing at least 1 200 people and taking 253 hostages, more than 30 000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
Also read: Israel says ground offensive in Rafah could start in March
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