In a significant diplomatic move, US Vice President Kamala Harris has called for an immediate six-week ceasefire from Palestinian militant group Hamas while strongly urging Israel to enhance aid deliveries to Gaza, emphasising that the dire humanitarian situation is a “catastrophe” affecting innocent lives.
Speaking at an event in Selma, Alabama on Sunday Harris made one of the most forceful statements to date by a senior U.S. leader on the Israel-Palestine issue. She pressed the Israeli government, outlining specific measures to facilitate the flow of aid into the densely-populated enclave, where hundreds of thousands are grappling with famine after five months of intense Israeli military campaigns.
“Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire. There is a deal on the table, and as we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal. Let’s get a ceasefire,” Harris stated emphatically.
Highlighting the urgent need for action, Harris pointed out the inhumane conditions in Gaza, emphasizing the shared humanity that compels intervention.
She called on the Israeli government to do more, asserting, “The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses.”
As diplomatic efforts continue, a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday for the latest round of ceasefire talks, considered by many as the potential final hurdle for a truce. However, uncertainties persist over progress as Israel reportedly boycotted the talks after Hamas rejected its demand for a complete list of hostages still alive.
Washington maintains that a ceasefire deal is imminent, with efforts to implement a truce before the start of Ramadan, just a week away. An agreement would mark the first extended truce in the five-month-long conflict, with hostages held by Hamas potentially released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
Sources briefed on the negotiations suggested that Israel might abstain from Cairo unless Hamas presents a full list of surviving hostages—an aspect the Palestinian group has reportedly rejected so far. A Palestinian official informed Reuters that the deal was not yet finalized, with no official comment from Israel.
In additional diplomatic initiatives, Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz is scheduled to meet Vice President Harris at the White House on Monday, while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will host him in Washington on Tuesday. Simultaneously, U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein plans to visit Beirut on Monday to address de-escalation efforts across the Lebanese-Israeli border.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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