WASHINGTON: The White House has said a provisional ceasefire in Gaza was essential to a hostage deal and asked Hamas to accept the terms currently on the table, as talks to achieve truce proceeded in Cairo.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told journalists on Monday that Washington still hoped to reach a ceasefire-for-hostages deal by the start of the holy month of Ramadan on March 10.
He added Hamas has yet to agree to the terms of a proposed ceasefire agreement that would include a six-week ceasefire in exchange for the release of some of the sick, elderly and injured hostages taken by the Palestinian group Hamas in October.
Kirby also said the United States would airdrop more humanitarian assistance into Gaza and was looking for a maritime option for getting in more aid. He said truck deliveries had been slowed by opposition from Israel’s cabinet.
He said that Israel bears a responsibility to do more.
According to the Gaza health ministry the ongoing relentless Israeli bombardment since October 7, has killed at least 30,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
Meanwhile The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday revealed distressing scenes of children dying from starvation in northern Gaza hospitals, amid dire shortages of food, fuel and medicines, underscoring the dire humanitarian crisis gripping the region.
