‘Right Now Ball Is In The Camp Of Hamas’: US Official On Gaza Ceasefire.
A senior US official disclosed in Washington on Saturday that Israel has tentatively agreed to a six-week ceasefire deal for Gaza.
However, the deal’s fate now rests on Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.
The Biden administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, informed reporters that there’s a framework deal in place, with Israel showing general acceptance. “Right now, the ball is in the camp of Hamas,” the official stated.
Negotiators from regional powers are engaged in intensive efforts to finalize the agreement before the start of Ramadan, which commences in approximately one week.
The proposed ceasefire hinges on Hamas agreeing to release a specific category of vulnerable hostages, including the sick, wounded, elderly, and women. “We would have a ceasefire if Hamas addresses that final issue,” emphasized the US official.
The ceasefire aims not only to halt hostilities but also to pave the way for a more sustainable peace settlement between Israel and Hamas.
As you may recall, this conflict escalated after an attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7.
Meanwhile, a delegation from Hamas is expected to travel to Cairo for discussions on the potential truce, according to a source close to the group.
If agreed upon, the ceasefire would facilitate a significant increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of an impending famine, particularly in the north of the territory.
Earlier on Saturday, the United States conducted its inaugural aid airdrop into Gaza following a tragic incident at an aid station on Thursday, resulting in the loss of over 100 Palestinian lives.
However, US officials underscored that such measures cannot replace the imperative of delivering relief through land routes into Gaza. “None of these—maritime corridors, airdrops—are an alternative to the fundamental need to move assistance through as many land crossings as possible,” reiterated a second US official.
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