A senior U.S. official says Israel has essentially endorsed a framework of a proposed Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, and it is now up to Hamas to agree to it.

International mediators have been working for weeks to broker a deal to pause the fighting before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10. A deal would likely allow aid to reach hundreds of thousands of desperate Palestinians in northern Gaza who aid officials worry are under threat of famine.

The Israelis “have more or less accepted” the proposal, which includes the six-week cease-fire as well as the release by Hamas of hostages considered vulnerable, which includes the sick, the wounded, the elderly and women, said the official.

“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 said, speaking on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House to brief reporters.

  • @Linkerbaan
    15•9 months ago

    Hamas has already stated they have no interest in a temporary ceasefire as it is pointless and will not resolve anything. Using starvation as a Genocidal weapon of war is truly disgusting by israel.

  • @oakey66
    4•9 months ago

    Great. But if in 6 weeks Israel picks back up and continues its genocidal rampage and ethnic cleansing campaign, we’re right back at square one. Platitudes and human rights cosplay is not going to stem the tide of Palestinian/Arab discontent.

  • @blahsay
    -30•9 months ago

    Hamas will never let a young female hostage go alive. Propaganda is their only consideration; certainly not the Palestinians