Joe Biden, the US President, told negotiators holding talks on a Gaza ceasefire to ‘get me a deal’, according to US officials.
The President made the remarks to the emir of Qatar and the president of Egypt, who are helping negotiate the terms of a temporary ceasefire, on Thursday, Axios reported.
Mr Biden is under major pressure from voters over the US alliance with Israel, and the president was punished at the ballot box by protesting young Democrats in the primaries last week.
Negotiators are working towards an agreement prior to the beginning of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan on March 10.
A potential deal could include a six-week pause in fighting, the release of approximately 400 Palestinian prisoners in return for the freeing of 40 Israeli hostages, as well as preparation for a gradual return of Palestinian citizens to the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, vice president Kamala Harris called for an “immediate ceasefire” as she prepared to meet Israeli cabinet minister Benny Gantz.
Speaking in Selma Alabama she called for a minimum six week pause in the fighting.
“This would allow us to build something more enduring to ensure Israel is secure and to respect the right of the Palestinian people to dignity, freedom and self-determination,” she said.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
