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US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that there is a framework agreement on the table through which a ceasefire can be achieved in the Gaza Strip for 6 weeks, during which the hostages (prisoners) will be released in stages and more aid will be brought in.
He added in an interview with Al Jazeera that negotiations have been ongoing for weeks, and that the United States is working with its partners, especially the State of Qatar, which he said plays an important role in this issue.
Kirby said, "Israel negotiated in good faith, and the ball is currently in the court of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), and we urge it to accept the agreement on the table."
According to Kirby, the current framework “will stop the war for 6 weeks, allow the phased release of all hostages, as well as help bring in more aid.”
The American official said that the current framework differs from the previous truce in that it extends for a longer period that will allow for an increase and improvement of the aid that will be brought into the Gaza Strip, which is living in a hopeless situation, as he put it.
He added, "This gives us a wonderful opportunity to deliver aid to many of those suffering in Gaza, and gives us time to see if there is an opportunity to extend the truce, and perhaps work toward or toward an end to this conflict."
He stressed that the airdrops will continue, although they are not a substitute for the aid that people need, noting that the population in northern Gaza is in need of water and food.
Kirby said that the United States will continue to work with Jordan to carry out more landings, pointing out that there is a trend to deliver aid via sea, because ships are able to carry larger quantities.
Kirby did not specify a specific date for the completion of the infrastructure necessary to deliver aid by sea, but he said that work is underway with partners in Europe and the region in order to accomplish this matter, stressing that Washington wants to deliver as much aid as possible.
Regarding the buffer zone that Israel wants to establish in Gaza, the American official said that he would not speak on behalf of Israel, indicating that the United States does not support reducing the area of Gaza, displacing the population of Gaza, or reoccupying the Strip.
Kirby said that the United States understands Israel's right to feel that Gaza no longer represents a threat, especially since Hamas threatened to repeat what happened on October 7th.
Source: Al Jazeera