Air drop of humanitarian supplies into Gaza Strip
President Joe Biden warned Tuesday a failure to get a cease-fire in Gaza before the start of Ramadan early next week “might be very, very dangerous” as both sides remained publicly firm in their positions.
A third day of negotiations for a truce and the release of hostages concluded Tuesday in Cairo with no breakthroughs, though adding that the Hamas delegation remained in Egypt and would meet with mediators Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters in Maryland before flying back to the White House, Biden said Israel has been cooperating and “it’s in the hands of Hamas right now” to strike a deal before the Muslim holy month begins around Sunday, depending on the sighting of the moon.
“We’ll know in a couple days if it’s going to happen,” Biden said. “If we get into a circumstance where this continues through Ramadan … it might be very, very dangerous. So, we’re looking − we’re trying hard for that cease-fire.”
Egyptian officials helping mediate the discussions said Hamas made a proposal Tuesday and it would be presented to Israel, which did not attend the talks.
U.S. officials have been touting a six-week cease-fire that would bring the release of some hostages and Palestinian prisoners, as well as increased humanitarian aid to Gaza. But Hamas leaders insist on a permanent end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and they have declined Israel’s request for the names of the hostages to be freed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected what he branded as Hamas’ “delusional” demands and said that, truce or not, his military will at some point pursue the militants in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where an estimated 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering.
Besides the permanency of a cease-fire, the sides have also yet to agree on the terms of the return home of northern Gaza residents, the ratio of a hostage-to-prisoner exchange and which imprisoned militants would be released.
“Hamas is open to proposals and initiatives that are consistent with its position calling for a cease-fire, withdrawal, the return of the displaced, the entry of relief convoys and reconstruction,” Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha said.
Developments:
– An overnight Israeli airstrike killed at least 17 people in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, Palestinian officials said. The nearby European Hospital said it had received 17 bodies.
– The Gaza Health Ministry said 15 children have starved to death at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza and six others are at risk of dying from malnutrition and dehydration. The U.N. has confirmed at least 10 such deaths in the devastated area.
– The U.S. is increasing pressure on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid to