Israel has agreed to almost all points in a framework for a proposed cease-fire in Gaza. It is now up to Hamas to approve the framework, which also includes a deal to release some of the hostages, according to a senior US government official.
“The Israelis have largely signed the parts of the settlement. Now the ball is in Hamas’s court, and we continue to push the issue forward as hard as we can,” says the American government representative, according to the AP news agency.
According to information from Egyptian sources earlier on Saturday, questions remain about, among other things, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
List of Palestinian prisoners
Both Israel and Hamas are said to have sent delegations to Cairo for further negotiations on Sunday. Several Israeli media outlets state that Israel then has a list of Palestinian prisoners who will not be released in a prisoner exchange.
US President Joe Biden has said he hopes a six-week truce can take effect before the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan begins on March 10 or 11.
The US has released air support
The US military has airlifted 66 pallets of emergency aid to Gaza. It is the first aid shipment from the United States to Gaza that is made by air.
In total, Saturday’s first shipment contains the equivalent of 38,000 meals.
President Joe Biden said Friday that the United States would follow several other countries in delivering airborne emergency aid.
– The aid coming into Gaza now is nowhere near enough, said Biden.