Israel has “more or less accepted” an offer for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of vulnerable hostages, an official told The Associated Press.
The framework depends on Hamas's acceptance of the agreement, the official said. Said A.P.
“The ball is now in Hamas' court and we continue to push this forward as hard as we can,” the official said, reported the Associated Press.
A government official talks about the hostage trade:
“The ball is now in Hamas' court.”
They say the framework is there.
Israel agreed to the elements “in principle”.
It's a six week ceasefire.
Freeing hostages, especially the sick, elderly, and women.— Kellie Meyer (@KellieMeyerNews) March 2, 2024
The Biden administration hopes a ceasefire can be agreed before the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins on March 10, according to the Associated Press. (Related: Report: Hamas claims 7 hostages were killed)
Mediators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar met in Paris on February 23 to discuss initial terms. according to To Axios. They reportedly began developing the framework for the deal at that meeting.
The news comes just one day after the United States sent its first airlift of food aid to Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack. reportedly Killed 1,163 people in Israel.
Human rights groups have warned that many aid trucks are being looted as soon as they arrive, putting a quarter of Gaza's 576,000 residents at imminent risk of starvation. according to To AP.
Dozens of Gazans were killed during relief deliveries on Thursday.Israel Claim Most of the deaths were caused by “overcrowding, crowding, and trampling.”
Palestinian officials condemned the claim, and state media announced: statement “Israeli occupation forces' tanks and artillery committed a heinous massacre this morning against hundreds of innocent civilians who were waiting for aid trucks to arrive… resulting in over 104 people being killed,” the statement said. did.
Israeli officials said another incident involving a support truck occurred more than a month ago in which Israeli soldiers “fired warning shots into the air and then opened fire on people who posed a threat and refused to leave.” admitted that it was.
