According to US President Joe Biden, the temporary ceasefire agreement could come into force as early as next week. According to Israel and Hamas, the negotiations are still badly underway.
President of the United States Joe Biden according to which Israel is willing to end hostilities against the terrorist organization Hamas during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, if a ceasefire agreement is reached.
– It has been agreed with Israel that they would not continue [sota]measures during Ramadan to give us time to get the hostages out [Gazasta]Biden said by Seth Myers on the Late Night talk show.
Biden refers to the agreement prepared by the United States, Egypt, France and Qatar, under which Hamas would release some of the hostages it had captured in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. The agreement is also supposed to end fighting in the Gaza Strip for 40 days.
In the interview, Biden also said that he hoped that the agreement would enter into force on Monday of next week. According to Biden, the creation of an agreement is close, but it is not ready yet.
According to Hamas, Biden’s speeches are premature, for Israel Biden’s comments came as a surprise
Hamas officials who spoke to the Reuters news agency say that Biden’s statement is premature and that the agreement has “big gaps that need to be closed.” Hamas has also accused Israel of prolonging the negotiations.
– The primary and most important issues regarding the ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces are not clearly stated in the agreement, which delays its achievement, one of the officials told Reuters.
In previous negotiations, Hamas has demanded that the cease-fire agreement should include Israel’s permanent commitment to ending the war and withdrawing from the Gaza Strip. Israel has again vowed to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed.
According to Israeli officials, Biden’s comments came as a surprise. For the Washington Post according to an official who spoke anonymously, the creation of an agreement “is not as close as people think”.
– At the moment there is no agreement, and its deadline is neither Monday nor Tuesday, the official said.
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu said in turn to the US news channel For Fox Newsthat the creation of the agreement depends on Hamas.
Netanyahu also accused Hamas of “absurd demands” regarding the deal. According to Netanyahu, Israel is ready to conclude an agreement if Hamas moderates its demands.
Netanyahu: A possible deal would only delay Rafah’s operation
Netanyahu said on Sunday that a possible deal between the two sides would only delay the attack on Rafah, but not prevent it. Rafah is home to up to 1.4 million internally displaced people from Gaza.
– It has to be done because our goal is full victory and full victory is within reach, not months, but weeks away, when we start the operation, Netanyahu said.
King of Jordan Abdullah warned on Monday of the dangers of Israel’s planned military operation in Rafah and reiterated his appeal for an immediate ceasefire to help civilians.
The food shortage is particularly bad in northern Gaza. There, desperate crowds have taken over aid transports. Aid workers have reported seeing emaciated and clearly starving people.
Sources: AP, BBC, Reuters, STT