Biden hopes that the talks that have been ongoing for weeks will result in a 6-week truce in Gaza (French)

US President Joe Biden pledged to continue pressing for a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, while Israeli ministers attacked War Council member Benny Gantz because of his visit to Washington and London without coordination with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Yesterday evening, Monday, Biden said in his account on the “X” platform that he would not stop the pressure until an agreement was reached that would guarantee the release of the “hostages” and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for at least 6 weeks and allow for an increase in aid to the entire Strip.

At the same time, Strategic Communications Coordinator at the US National Security Council, John Kirby, said that Washington hopes to reach a temporary ceasefire agreement in Gaza before the beginning of the month of Ramadan.

Kirby added that Israel agreed to a temporary ceasefire that could last 6 weeks, and to provide more humanitarian aid to Gaza in exchange for the release of the “hostages,” saying that Hamas should do the same.

Washington still rejects the call for a ceasefire in Gaza, despite its repeated reference to the increasing number of civilian casualties and the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip, and only supports a truce that allows the release of Israelis detained in Gaza.

A few days ago, the US Army carried out the first airdrop of aid into the Gaza Strip, and Washington also raised the possibility of bringing aid in by sea.

Talks in Washington

Biden and Kirby's statements regarding a possible truce in Gaza coincided with the start of talks in the Israeli war government, Benny Gantz, in Washington discussing the course of the war and the possible agreement to exchange prisoners and aid. His visit sparked anger within Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Yesterday, Gantz met with US Vice President Kamala Harris, and is scheduled to meet today, Tuesday, with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and leaders in Congress.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that bringing humanitarian aid into Gaza will be at the top of the agenda of Blinken's meeting with a member of the Israeli war council.

During her meeting with Gantz at the White House, Harris expressed her deep concern about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, referring to what she described as the horrific tragedy that occurred to the aid convoy in the northern Gaza Strip, in reference to the massacre committed by the Israeli army last Thursday against Palestinians who gathered in the hope of obtaining some aid. Food.

The US Vice President discussed with the Israeli minister the need to reach an exchange deal, and she also welcomed what she considered a constructive Israeli approach to the talks. Harris called on the Hamas movement to accept the conditions on the table, including the release of detainees, which would pave the way for an immediate ceasefire and an increase in humanitarian aid.

The New York Times newspaper quoted informed sources as saying that Harris repeatedly advised Biden to show greater sympathy for Palestinian civilians by talking about the high death toll, and also urged the administration not to ignore the anger of Palestinian Americans and others.

Gantz (center) in the Congress building to meet with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (French)

Attack on Gantz

Meanwhile, a number of Benjamin Netanyahu's government ministers launched an attack on war cabinet member Benny Gantz on the occasion of his visit to Washington, as well as his upcoming visit to London. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that Gantz is the weakest link in the government, and that he serves the interest of the Biden administration and promotes its plan to establish Palestinian state.

In turn, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said that immediate instructions must be given to stop the talks and move to a more forceful phase of fighting.

For his part, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said that the differences between Israeli officials serve the Hamas movement.

Eliyahu is known for his extremist statements against the Palestinians, including his call to drop a nuclear bomb on the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Army Radio reported that the Israeli Prime Minister sent instructions to the Israeli embassy in Washington and London, according to which he ordered not to provide services to Benny Gantz, Minister in the War Council and leader of the “State Camp” party, or to accompany him on his visit that he began to the United States.

The radio added that those close to Gantz prepared for the visit independently, without seeking help from the embassy in Washington.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies