(Selma) US Vice President Kamala Harris called on Sunday for an “immediate ceasefire” for “at least six weeks” in the Gaza Strip.
“Given the scale of the suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks, which is currently on the negotiating table” between Israel and Hamas, Mr.me Harris during a speech commemorating a civil rights march in Selma, Alabama.
“This will free the hostages and deliver a significant amount of aid,” she added, calling on Hamas to accept the deal.
“Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. Well, there’s a deal on the table. And as we said, Hamas must accept this agreement. »
The proposal from the mediators – Qatar, United States, Egypt – concerns a six-week pause in the fighting and the release of 42 of the 130 Israeli hostages – 31 of whom are believed to have died – still being held in Gaza against Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
A senior American official in Washington had assured earlier that the Israelis had “accepted in principle the elements of the agreement”.
Kamala Harris also issued the strongest criticism yet of Israel from a senior US official, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to take steps to increase aid to Gaza.
“The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. There are no excuses,” the vice president said.
She added that Israel “must open new crossing points” and “must not impose unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of aid.”