Hamas in talks with US about Gaza ceasefire and aid, says senior Palestinian official

[Pelican Press 0]

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****** in talks with US about Gaza ceasefire and aid, says senior ************ official

CAIRO (Reuters) -Talks between ****** and the U.S. administration on a ceasefire in Gaza and the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave are underway, a senior ************ official familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Sunday.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently repeated a pledge to help get food to Palestinians in Gaza. A U.S.-backed mechanism for getting aid into Gaza should take effect soon, Washington’s envoy to Israel also said on Friday.

A State Department spokesperson said: “We cannot speak to ongoing negotiations, but I will note recent statements by Qatar and Egypt that they are continuing to engage in pursuit of an agreement.”

The spokesperson said that ****** bore sole responsibility for the war as well as for the resumption of hostilities.

“President Trump has made clear the consequences ****** will face if it continues to hold the hostages, including American ***** Alexander and the bodies of four Americans,” the spokesperson added.

The U.S. had previously held discussions with the ************ militant group on securing the release of U.S. hostages held in Gaza.

Israeli media reported on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had told a closed session of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that ****** could soon release Alexander, an American-Israeli hostage, as a goodwill gesture towards Trump, who will visit this Middle East this week.

The prime minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reports.

Since March 2, Israel has cut off all supplies to the 2.3 million residents of Gaza, and food stockpiled during a ceasefire at the start of the year has all but run out.

On March 18, Israel effectively ended the January ceasefire agreement with ****** and renewed its military campaign in Gaza.

****** has said it is willing to free all remaining hostages seized by its gunmen in attacks on communities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and agree to a permanent ceasefire if Israel pulls out completely from Gaza.

Israel, vowing the war can only stop once ****** is stamped out, has said it plans to expand its military campaign in Gaza, which has been devastated during the war and prompted warnings from the U.N. that the population faces imminent famine.

The October 2023 ****** attacks killed 1,200 people, and 251 were taken hostage back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s campaign has killed more than 52,800 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to ******-run health authorities.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Enas Alashray; Editing by Ros Russell, Hugh Lawson and Giles Elgood)

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