According to a senior Biden administration source on Saturday, Israel has essentially agreed to a framework for a cease-fire in Gaza, which includes the release of hostages. Since they were not allowed to publicly disclose the talks, the person talked to reporters anonymously. “Right now, the ball is in the court of Hamas, and we are continuing to push this as hard as we possibly can,” the official added. If approved as intended, the agreement calls for the release of captives deemed vulnerable and a six-week cease-fire. Additionally, it would permit additional help to reach Gaza.
According to the person, negotiations will pick back up in Egypt on Sunday, and Egypt and Qatar, the mediators, anticipate hearing back from Hamas. The official continued, “I don’t want to create expectations one way or the other,” as reported by Reuters. According to Egyptian sources and a Hamas official, Hamas has not retreated from its stance that a temporary truce must be the beginning of a path toward ending the war altogether. In an attempt to bring an end to the nearly five-month conflict that has devastated Hamas-ruled Gaza, mediators have been trying to secure a truce before Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month that begins on March 10 or 11.
While expressing optimism for a cease-fire by Ramadan, US President Joe Biden told reporters on Friday, “We’re not there yet.” On Monday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantz will meet at the White House in an attempt by Washington to broker a provisional cease-fire and expand humanitarian supplies to Gaza. According to a White House official, the discussions will probably center on Palestinian civilian casualties, establishing a provisional cease-fire, freeing hostages detained in Gaza, and expanding aid into the enclave.
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