WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday welcomed the extension of humanitarian pause by Israel and Hamas by an additional two days, hoping that it would continue for longer period.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was speaking to media after mediator Qatar announced extension in the four-day truce.
“Of course we welcome the announcement,” he said.
He went on to say that US hopes to see the pause extended further adding that it will depend upon the release of captives. Kirby, however, expressed little hope that the truce could become a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Biden personally involved in making the truce deal
He added that President Biden had been personally involved in making the truce deal in place.
Earlier, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari stated, that as part of the ongoing mediation, an agreement has been reached to extend the humanitarian truce for an additional two days in the Gaza Strip.
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Hamas, the Palestinian resistance group, also confirmed the two-day truce extension, stating that the agreement was reached with Qatar and Egypt as mediators under the same conditions as the previous truce.
The area has witnessed some of the most intense Israeli bombardment, leading to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian people. After more than 50 days of continuous Israeli bombardment, nearly 15,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 30,000 injured.
