The United States, on Monday, November 27, expressed its approval of the agreement to extend the truce between Israel and Hamas by two days. The US conveyed its optimism that the humanitarian pause would endure for an even longer duration.
The United States welcomed an agreement on Monday to extend a truce between Israel and Hamas by two days, saying it was hopeful the humanitarian pause would continue for longer.
“Of course we welcome the announcement,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters after Qatar, the mediator, said that the initial four-day truce was to be lengthened.
“We would of course hope to see the pause extended further, and that will depend upon Hamas continuing to release hostages.”
Hamas had committed to releasing another 20 women and children held hostage in the Gaza Strip over the next two days, he added.
However, Kirby held out little hope that the truce could become a more permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Kirby stated, “I won’t speak for the Israeli Defense Forces, but when these pauses are over, they have made it very clear that they’re going to continue to target Hamas leadership.”
Biden nevertheless believed that his approach was “getting results” both in terms of freeing hostages and getting aid to civilians enduring dire conditions in Gaza, Kirby said.
He added that the US president had been “personally involved” in getting the truce deal in place, resolving a “snag” over the weekend and getting the extension of the pause.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
