US President Hopes For Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza by Next Week
US President Joe Biden has said he hopes to have a ceasefire “by next Monday” in the Israel-Gaza war.
His comments come amid reports of some progress reached in ongoing negotiations involving Israel and Hamas representatives in Qatar.
President Biden, whose country is Israel’s main ally, was speaking to reporters in New York City about the possible ceasefire.
Last week the US was widely criticized for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In a separate development, Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh resigned along with his government, which runs parts of the occupied West Bank.
Some too many innocent people are being killed, Mr Biden said on Late Night With Seth Meyers. And Israel has slowed down the attacks in Rafah.
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They have to. And they’ve committed to me they’re going to see to it that there is the ability to evacuate significant portions of Rafah before they go and take out the remainder of Hamas.
On Sunday, the Israeli prime minister’s office said it had received plans from its military to evacuate civilians from areas including Rafah.
Mr Netanyahu said in an interview with CBS on Sunday that Israeli forces would eventually launch an invasion of Rafah regardless of any agreement for a temporary ceasefire, insisting: We can’t leave the last Hamas stronghold without taking care of it.
If we have a deal, it’ll be delayed somewhat, he added. But it’ll happen. If we don’t have a deal, we’ll do it anyway.
President Mahmoud Abbas accepted his decision, which could pave the way for a technocratic government.
Mr. Abbas is under pressure from the US to reform the PA so it can govern Gaza after the Israel-Hamas war ends.
