2024-03-07 00:28:27
US Vice President Kamala Harris called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an increase in humanitarian assistance, Day.Az reports with reference to Interfax.
“Given the enormous scale of suffering in Gaza, an immediate ceasefire is needed for at least the next six weeks, which is currently being discussed,” Harris said during a speech in Selma, Alabama.
She emphasized: Hamas claims it wants a ceasefire.
“Well, there is a deal on the table. And, as we said, Hamas must agree to this deal. Let’s achieve a ceasefire. Let’s reunite the hostages with their families. And let’s immediately provide assistance to the people of Gaza,” the vice president said .
Harris also called on the Israeli government to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
“The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. There are no excuses,” she said.
“The truth is that the aid coming into Gaza right now is not enough. It is far from enough. The lives of innocent people and the lives of children are at stake,” the vice president added.
On Monday, Harris is expected to meet in Washington with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip and the proposed hostage deal.
According to US media, Gantz will also meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and National Security Council Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk.
After this, Gantz will head to London, where he will meet with British Foreign Minister David Cameron and other officials.
It was previously reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, upon learning of Gantz’s plans, was furious because the trip was planned without his approval. He told Gantz in a phone call on Friday that “Israel only has one prime minister.”
Earlier, CNN, citing a senior administration official, reported that Israel had “largely accepted” the proposal for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza. During this time, it is necessary to develop a second stage of the truce, which should include “the creation of something more durable,” the official said.
Hamas has not yet agreed to a “certain category of vulnerable hostages” who should be released in the first phase, he said.
The source added that the US has held “a number of meetings” in Israel and a meeting in Paris over the past few weeks.
Subscribe to our WhatsApp channel and stay up to date with the main news!