The United States has revealed that Israel has given its nod to a proposed framework for a cease-fire in Gaza. The focus now shifts to Hamas, who must decide on the agreement. A senior U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, shared this insight a day before the resumption of talks in Egypt aimed at finalizing the deal.
Efforts from international mediators have been underway for weeks to broker a cease-fire ahead of the impending Muslim holy month of Ramadan, set to commence around March 10. A successful agreement could pave the way for essential aid to reach hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Palestinians in northern Gaza, currently at risk of famine.
The proposed deal encompasses a six-week cease-fire and the release of hostages deemed vulnerable by Hamas, including the sick, wounded, elderly, and women. The official stated that Israel has more or less accepted the proposal, emphasizing that the ball is now in Hamas’s court.
As anticipation builds, Israeli and Hamas officials have not yet responded to requests for comment. The Cairo talks, scheduled to begin Sunday, are expected to yield a response from Hamas, according to a senior Egyptian official.
The situation in northern Gaza has garnered increasing criticism, with hundreds of thousands facing desperate conditions. The conflict, initiated when the Hamas militant group attacked southern Israel on October 7, has claimed the lives of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in the seizure of around 250 hostages.
In response to the humanitarian crisis, U.S. military planes have initiated airdrops of thousands of meals into Gaza, with Jordan and Egypt also conducting airdrops. Aid groups stress the need for alternative measures, urging the opening of additional crossings into Gaza and the removal of obstacles at existing ones.
The European Union’s diplomatic service has called for an international investigation into the chaos surrounding an aid convoy, attributing responsibility to restrictions imposed by the Israeli army and obstructions by violent extremists.
As the conflict persists, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports a death toll of 118 from Thursday’s violence, with 760 wounded. The overall Palestinian death toll from the war has risen to 30,320, with women and children constituting around two-thirds of those killed.
The dire situation is exacerbated in northern Gaza, where residents are resorting to scavenging rubble and garbage to feed their families. Shockingly, at least 10 children have succumbed to starvation, and approximately 300,000 people are believed to have remained in densely populated northern Gaza despite warnings to move south.
The impact of Israel’s air, sea, and ground offensive is evident in the destruction of much of northern Gaza. Despite the military’s directive to move south, a significant number of people have chosen to stay. Alarming statistics reveal that one in six children under 2 in the north is suffering from acute malnutrition and wasting, marking the region with “the worst level of child malnutrition anywhere in the world,” as noted by Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program.
In the face of these challenges, the international community awaits the response from Hamas during the upcoming talks in Cairo, hoping for a breakthrough that could bring relief to the beleaguered residents of Gaza.