2024-02-27 09:50:38
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Israel has agreed to halt military operations in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan. The announcement comes as Hamas reviews a draft proposal for the truce, which includes a pause in hostilities and a prisoner-hostage exchange.
The draft, discussed during truce talks in Paris, suggests a 40-day cessation of military activities alongside an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages at a ratio of 10 to one.
The proposed truce aims to facilitate urgent repairs to essential infrastructure in Gaza, such as hospitals and bakeries, and allow for the daily entry of 500 aid trucks into the war-torn region.
With Ramzan expected to start on the evening of March 10 and conclude on April 9, this pause in fighting could provide much-needed respite and humanitarian relief to the citizens of Gaza.
Negotiations for the framework deal, brokered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, are ongoing, with President Biden expressing hope that a cease-fire could be implemented as early as next week.
“Ramadan’s coming up, and there has been an agreement by the Israelis that they would not engage in activities during Ramadan as well, in order to give us time to get all the hostages out,” Biden remarked during an appearance on NBC’s ‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’.
Despite the ceasefire efforts, Biden did not advocate for an outright end to the war, which erupted following a deadly attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7. The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and led to approximately 250 people being taken hostage.
While showing unwavering support for Israel, Biden acknowledged the possibility of an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza bordering Egypt, where a significant portion of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has sought refuge.
The potential invasion of Rafah has raised international concerns regarding the welfare of civilians trapped in the area. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that a ground operation in Rafah is a crucial aspect of Israel’s strategy to dismantle Hamas.
However, Biden noted that Israel has committed to facilitating evacuations in Rafah before proceeding with further military actions against Hamas.
The conflict has inflicted severe casualties, with more than 29,700 people, mostly women and children, reported dead according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza. The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants in its casualty reports.
The war has also led to the displacement of 80 per cent of Gaza’s population, obliterated vast urban areas, and precipitated a humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations warning of a looming famine.
A previous deal in late November saw the release of around 100 hostages in exchange for about 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, marking the only agreement reached thus far in the conflict. It is estimated that 130 hostages remain in Gaza, with Israel claiming that about a quarter of them are deceased.
(With inputs from Reuters, AP)
