WASHINGTON, United States: US President Joe Biden Friday said he was “hoping” for a ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza by the Muslim holy month of Ramadan but agreement was still not sealed.
“I’m hoping so, we’re still working really hard on it. We’re not there yet,” the US president told media-men at the White House when asked if he expected such a deal by Ramadan, which will start on March 10 or 11, depending on the lunar calendar.
“We’ll get there but we’re not there yet — we may not get there,” Biden said, without further details, as he headed to his helicopter to spend the weekend at the presidential Camp David retreat.
Biden said earlier this week that he expected a six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to be reached by Monday, but he has steadily pushed back that deadline.
The 81-year-old Democratic lawmaker announced on Friday that the United States would soon begin air aid to Gaza, a day after dozens of desperate Palestinians were killed as aid convoys drove by.
Biden said the incident could complicate negotiations, but declined to comment Friday on what might stand in the way of a deal, saying, “I’m not going to talk about it because it’s interfering with the negotiations.” I do not intend to do this. Addition
