2024-03-03 22:48:46
(Selma) US Vice President Kamala Harris called on Sunday for an “immediate ceasefire” for “at least six weeks” in the Gaza Strip.
Published at 5:48 p.m. Updated at 7:46 p.m.
“Given the scale of the suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks, which is currently on the negotiating table” between Israel and Hamas, Harris said. during a speech commemorating a civil rights march in Selma, Alabama.
“This will free the hostages and deliver a significant amount of aid,” she added, calling on Hamas to accept the deal.
“Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. Well, there’s a deal on the table. And as we said, Hamas must accept this agreement. »
The proposal from the mediators – Qatar, United States, Egypt – concerns a six-week pause in the fighting and the release of 42 of the 130 Israeli hostages – 31 of whom are believed to have died – still being held in Gaza once morest Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
A senior American official in Washington had assured earlier that the Israelis had “accepted in principle the elements of the agreement”.
Kamala Harris also issued the strongest criticism yet of Israel from a senior US official, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to take steps to increase aid to Gaza.
“The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. There are no excuses,” the vice president said.
She added that Israel “must open new crossing points” and “must not impose unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of aid.”
On Monday in Washington, Ms. Harris is due to meet Israeli Minister Benny Gantz, a member of Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet.
“The vice president’s meeting is part of our ongoing efforts to engage with a wide range of Israeli officials regarding the war in Gaza” and beyond, a House official said Sunday. White.
Minister without portfolio and former Minister of Defense of Israel, Benny Gantz will also meet with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan as well as Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to American officials.
“Too many innocent Palestinians have been killed,” said the vice-president of the United States, referring to the distribution of aid in Gaza which turned into a tragedy on Thursday.
The Palestinian Hamas Health Ministry accuses the Israeli army of killing 118 people by firing into crowds. The Israeli army acknowledged “limited shooting” and said most of the victims died in a “stampede.”
People who were “just trying to get food for their families […] faced gunfire and chaos,” Ms. Harris said, adding that she was heartbroken for the “victims of this horrible tragedy.”
“The threat that Hamas poses to the people of Israel must be eliminated,” she added.
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