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President Biden mentioned Tuesday that negotiations over a possible six-week cease-fire in Gaza are “proper now within the palms of Hamas.” He spoke simply earlier than a Hamas chief in Lebanon rejected a proposed deal backed by america, insisting that Israeli hostages could be launched solely after a ceasefire was applied and Israeli forces withdrew.
Mr Biden mentioned the Israelis had been “cooperative” within the oblique talks, which had been being mediated by Qatar and Egypt, and that “an inexpensive supply” had been made.
“We’ll know in a couple of days what’s going to occur,” Mr Biden mentioned as he returned to the White Home after a weekend at Camp David, the place he was making ready for his State of the Union speech on Thursday. “We want a ceasefire.”
Mr Biden's feedback earlier within the day got here from Secretary of State Antony J. The feedback had been echoed by Blinken and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday concerning their conferences with Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's warfare cupboard, who was visiting Washington. No coordination with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Because the Islamic holy month of Ramadan approaches, the urgency for a breakthrough in talks has elevated, with all sides treating the vacations as a deadline. Ramadan, the month of prayer, introspection and fasting from nightfall to daybreak, is among the most vital instances of the Muslim calendar. Continued Israeli army strikes throughout the holidays may additional escalate Arab-Israeli tensions.
The warfare is now approaching 5 months. Massive elements of Gaza are in ruins, based on Gaza well being officers greater than 30,000 folks have died, and extreme starvation, bordering on hunger, is affecting tons of of 1000’s.
Nonetheless, there was no signal that Hamas, the armed group that guidelines Gaza, was prepared to maneuver towards a deal. In Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday, Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, reiterated the group's demand for an entire Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a everlasting ceasefire earlier than releasing Israeli hostages in alternate for Palestinian prisoners.
“The security and safety of our folks is not going to be achieved besides via a everlasting ceasefire and withdrawal from each inch of the Gaza Strip,” Mr Hamdan mentioned. “There can’t be a prisoner alternate earlier than all that is achieved.”
Mr Hamdan mentioned Hamas had made its place clear to Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
In a gathering with Mr Blinken, Qatar's Prime Minister and Overseas Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani, mentioned Qatar and its companions would persist in making certain that the deal goes via, irrespective of who makes an attempt to dam it. Making an attempt to weaken. To deliver peace.”
“We need to see an finish to human struggling; We need to see the hostages again with their households,” he mentioned Tuesday.
Earlier than the Hamas information convention, Mr Biden was requested whether or not a ceasefire was attainable earlier than the beginning of Ramadan, which regularly sees Israeli-Palestinian tensions rise over entry to a key holy web site in Jerusalem.
“There needs to be a cease-fire,” Mr. Biden mentioned, including that if no settlement was reached to cease the preventing by Ramadan, “it’s going to be very harmful.”
“So, we are attempting very, very onerous to get a ceasefire,” he mentioned.