US president says cease-fire deal is 'in hands of' Hamas
On a possible Gaza cease-fire deal, the ball in now in Hamas’ court, said US President Joe Biden on Tuesday, News.Az reports citing Anadolu Agency.
"It’s in the hands of Hamas right now. Israelis have been cooperating. There’s been a rational offer. We will know in a couple of days what’s gonna happen. We need a cease-fire," Biden told reporters before boarding Air Force One in Hagerstown, Maryland, northwest of Washington, DC.
When asked whether a cease-fire is possible by the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts next week, Biden said: "There’s got to be a cease-fire. If we get to (the) circumstance that it continues to Ramadan … it’s gonna be very, very dangerous. So we are trying very, very hard to get a cease-fire."
Biden also said that he’s working very hard to get more aid delivered to the Gaza Strip, where the population faces an acute risk of famine, adding: "We must get more aid into Gaza."
Asked about his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden said: "Like it's always been."
There have been growing reports of friction between Biden and Netanyahu, with the US president unhappy over how Israel is waging the war, especially the large number of civilian casualties.
The US urged Hamas on Monday to agree to a hostage release deal with Israel which would also include a six-week cease-fire in Gaza.
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