Biden said that what happened in northern Gaza complicates the negotiations (French)

US President Joe Biden held two separate calls with the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, today, Thursday, during which they discussed reaching a possible ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

A statement from the Qatari Emiri Diwan stated that the talks addressed Qatar's efforts aimed at reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

For its part, the Egyptian presidency said that Sisi stressed the need to reach an immediate and sustainable ceasefire that “allows adequate and appropriate access to humanitarian aid.”

As for the White House, he said that the US President is working to reach an agreement for a ceasefire for at least 6 weeks in exchange for the release of Israeli detainees in Gaza.

He added, in a statement, that Biden also discussed with the Emir of the State of Qatar and the Egyptian President “the tragic and disturbing incident during the delivery of aid in the northern Gaza Strip,” referring to the “flour massacre” committed by the Israeli occupation forces on Wednesday night, as they targeted hundreds of Palestinians as they gathered to receive food. Receiving aid at the Nabulsi roundabout in Gaza City.

Washington said that it asked the Israeli government to investigate the incident and provide more information regarding the circumstances that led to this tragedy, as it described it, noting that what happened complicates negotiations.

Earlier today, Biden said that the ceasefire in Gaza would likely not be achieved by next Monday, retracting what he had told reporters earlier.

Regarding the Nabulsi Roundabout massacre, the US President stated that he was following the incident closely, and that there were “conflicting reports” about it, noting that what happened “complicates negotiations to release the hostages.”

New proposal

Meanwhile, Politico magazine quoted an American official as saying that Washington and Tel Aviv are awaiting the response of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) regarding a new proposal to exchange prisoners and stop the fighting for 6 weeks.

On the other hand, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Taiani called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, calling on Israel to protect civilians.

“The tragic deaths in Gaza require an immediate ceasefire to facilitate the provision of more humanitarian aid, the release of hostages and the protection of civilians,” he wrote on the X platform.

Tayani added, "We strongly urge Israel to protect the population in Gaza and carefully verify the facts and responsibilities."

For her part, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement, "It is necessary for Israel to shed light on these events and determine responsibilities."

She added, "The occurrence of additional civilian casualties in large numbers requires immediate intensification of efforts...to create conditions for a ceasefire and the release of the hostages."

At least 112 Palestinians were martyred and about 800 others were injured as a result of the Israeli occupation forces targeting crowds that gathered around aid trucks at the Nabulsi roundabout near Al-Rashid Street in Gaza City.

Since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, which was carried out by the Palestinian resistance on the seventh of last October in response to the occupation’s continuing violations, Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza that left tens of thousands of martyrs and wounded, most of them children and women, and caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies