US official says Israel will ‘basically accept’ six-week cease-fire and wait out Hamas

CNN
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A senior Biden administration official told reporters on Saturday that Israel had “essentially accepted” a proposal for a six-week ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The second phase will be elaborated over his six weeks “to build something more permanent.”

The six-week ceasefire will allow for the release of hostages held in Gaza and the flow of aid to the besieged coastal enclave.

The official said there was a “framework agreement” that Israel had “more or less accepted”. The problem, the official said, is that Hamas has not yet agreed on a “defined category of vulnerable hostages.”

U.S. officials said Friday that negotiations to reach a cease-fire agreement to end fighting between Hamas and Israel in Gaza until Ramadan continue, even after more than 100 Palestinians were killed in an attempted murder on Thursday. , said it is coming up in about a week. Access food in Gaza City.

On Friday afternoon, President Joe Biden called for an “immediate ceasefire.”

“We are working to finalize an agreement between Israel and Hamas for the return of the hostages and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for at least the next six weeks, allowing for a surge in aid to the Gaza Strip,” Biden said in a broad daylight speech. The House of Representatives meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

U.S. officials said Friday there was no sign that talks had been seriously derailed by the fatal incident at the aid site, but that it depended on Hamas’ expected reaction to what was discussed last week in Paris and Doha, Qatar. Qatar, Egypt, Israel and the United States are participating in these talks. But on Thursday, Hamas officials warned that negotiations could be affected.

Officials from several countries that have been central to ceasefire negotiations have not yet commented on Saturday’s news.

Further talks are planned in Cairo as international efforts to broker a ceasefire continue, two sources familiar with the matter said on Saturday. Negotiators from the United States, Israel, Egypt and Hamas are expected to attend, a diplomatic source familiar with the talks said. It is unclear whether Qatar will participate. Israel asked Hamas to provide a list of hostages, including who lived and who died.

Also on Saturday, White House officials announced that Vice President Kamala Harris would meet with Israeli War Cabinet Secretary Benny Gantz on Monday as the US called for a temporary ceasefire.

“The vice president will discuss the urgency of securing a hostage deal that would allow for a temporary ceasefire, and the need to significantly increase and sustain aid flows to Gaza given the dire humanitarian situation,” the official said. , added that Harris will take further action. The United States reiterates its readiness to extend assistance through airdrops and maritime corridors.

Harris has been involved in plans for the “next day” in Gaza, and those discussions will continue with Gantz on Monday, who is also expected to meet with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

A senior administration official said Friday that the United States is still racing to get a deal across the finish line by Ramadan.

Biden said earlier this week that he hoped to see a ceasefire in Gaza by Monday, but on Friday he gave a mixed assessment of that possibility, saying: And it may not be able to get there now. ”

Talkers said the deal would likely be implemented in multiple stages and would include women, children, the elderly and the sick in exchange for fewer Palestinian prisoners than Hamas had originally envisaged. He said this included freeing a group of Israeli hostages, including those from . he demanded.

News of a possible ceasefire was announced on the same day that the United States and Jordan airdropped humanitarian aid into Gaza, but this also meant “more aid to Gaza, including expanding the flow of aid through land and routes.” “This is part of our ongoing efforts to acquire the United States.” Central Command said.

After the airdrop, Biden said on social media that the amount of aid flowing into Gaza was “not nearly enough,” adding that the U.S. “remains committed to getting more aid.”

The post echoed remarks the president made at the White House on Friday, saying, “We will facilitate more trucks and more routes to help Israel get the aid it needs to more people.” “I’m going to insist that we do it. I’m not going to make excuses.” “Innocent lives are at stake, and the lives of children are at stake.”

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNN’s MJ Lee and Oren Liebermann contributed to this report.