It all depends on Hamas saying yes, according to Washington
The US government is confident Israel will accept a three-phase deal for a ceasefire in Gaza if Hamas agrees, White House national security spokesman John Kirby has said.
US President Joe Biden outlined the proposal for a truce on Friday, presenting it as having come from West Jerusalem.
“This was an Israeli proposal. We have every expectation that if Hamas agrees to the proposal … then Israel would say yes,” Kirby said in an interview with ABC News’ This Week on Sunday.
The US hopes that both sides agree to launch the first phase of the plan “as soon as possible,” Kirby added. “We’re waiting for an official response from Hamas.”
Phase one would entail a six-week “pause” in the fighting, during which Israel and Hamas would “would sit down and try to negotiate what phase two could look like, and when that could begin,” said Kirby, who is the spokesman for the US National Security Council.
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