Jakarta –
President of the United States (US) Joe Biden said a ceasefire in Gaza unlikely to happen on Monday next week. Biden assessed that shooting incidents at aid sites would likely complicate negotiations.
Reported AFPFriday (1/3/2024), Biden said the US was examining other versions of the incident in which troops Israel shooting at Palestinians fighting for aid. The health ministry in Gaza said more than 100 people had died.
Earlier this week Biden predicted a deal would be reached by Monday to implement a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
“Hope is eternal,” Biden told reporters when asked about the timing of the ceasefire, as he left the White House for a pre-election trip to Texas to visit the US-Mexico border.
“I’m on the phone with people in the area… Maybe not on Monday, but I’m hopeful,” he said.
Biden said he did not yet have clarity regarding Israeli troops shooting at Gazans who were raiding aid in Gaza on Thursday (29/4) morning, one of the worst incidents in the war that lasted nearly five months.
“We’re looking into it now. There are two competing versions of what happened, I don’t have the answer yet,” Biden said as he headed for his helicopter.
When asked if he was worried whether that would complicate the delicate ceasefire negotiations, Biden replied: “I know that will happen.”
(rfs/rfs)
2024-02-29 21:51:22
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