US President Joe Biden has expressed hope in a ceasefire being agreed to in the Israel-Gaza War in time for the start of Ramadan.
The Muslim holy month, during which members of the faith fast from dawn to sunset, will begin on 10 or 11 March. The exact start of Ramadan is marked by the first sighting of the crescent Moon, so it can vary from place to place.
The BBC reports that when asked if he expected a deal by then, Biden said: ‘I’m hoping so. We’re still working real hard on it.’
A source close to the talks told Reuters news agency that a proposed deal would see a 40-day pause in all military operations from the start of Ramadan as well as an increased flow of aid into Gaza.
It would also reportedly include an agreement for the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages, at a ratio of 10 to one.
According to the BBC, calls for action to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensified on Thursday after more than 100 people were killed as crowds swarmed around aid trucks delivering food.
Hamas, which governs Gaza, accused Israel of firing at civilians, but Israel said most had died in a stampede after it fired warning shots.
[Image: Palestinian News & Information Agency (Wafa) in contract with APAimages, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=138775628]