The US government has “every expectation” that Israel will accept a ceasefire proposal that would begin with a six-week cessation of hostilities in Gaza if Hamas takes the deal, according to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
The three-part plan unveiled by President Joe Biden last week would also be a “surge” of humanitarian aid, as well as an exchange of some hostages for Palestinian prisoners before a permanent end to the war.
The proposal, however, has met with vocal opposition from some members of Israel’s government.
The negotiations come as fighting continues in Rafah, which came under intense Israeli airstrikes over the weekend.
According to the UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, all 36 of its shelters in the Rafah area are empty after residents were forced to flee.
Another 1.7 million people are estimated to be displaced in Khan Younis and parts of central Gaza.
Speaking to ABC News on Sunday morning, Mr Kirby said that the US had “every expectation” that Israel would “say yes” to the proposed ceasefire deal if Hamas accepts.
During that initial six-week pause in the fighting, Mr Kirby said the “two sides would sit down and try to negotiate what phase two could look like, and when that could begin”.
In a televised address last week, Mr Biden said that the second phase of the plan would see all remaining living hostages returned, including male soldiers. The ceasefire would then become “the cessation of hostilities, permanently”.
On Saturday, however, two far-right Israeli ministers threatened to quit and collapse the country’s governing coalition if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to the deal.
Similarly, Mr Netanyahu has insisted that there will be no ceasefire until Hamas’s military and governing capabilities are destroyed and all hostages are released.
Credit: bbc.com
