TRANSCRIPT
World leaders are urging Hamas to accept Israel's latest offer of a truce, which reportedly includes a 40-day ceasefire. United States President Joe Biden is expected to speak with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt as he pushes for a deal aimed at a Gaza ceasefire and the release of some hostages held by Hamas militants.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre says progress has been made toward arranging a hostage deal.
"What we believe is that now is the time for Hamas to take this deal. It is on the table. It is time to, is way past time to get these hostages home. It is way past time to get to a ceasefire. And we need to make sure we continue to get that humanitarian aid. As we know, it is a dire situation in Gaza. I just don't have anything to share beyond what the secretary (Blinken) spoke to. He's going to obviously meet with regional partners as he's there to continue that pressure, to continue that conversation, to continue that diplomacy."
Israel's proposal reportedly contains a deal for the release of fewer than 40 of the roughly 130 hostages believed to be still held in Gaza in exchange for freeing Palestinians jailed in Israel.
A second phase of a truce would consist of a period of sustained calm, which is Israel's compromise response to a Hamas demand for a permanent ceasefire.
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has urged Hamas to take the deal.
"I'm never optimistic about this because it never pays to be optimistic on peace in this very difficult situation, but it does seem to me there is now, let's be frank, a pretty generous offer of sustained 40-day ceasefire, the release of potentially thousands of Palestinian prisoners, in return for the release of these hostages, who have now been in captivity for over 200 days. So I hope Hamas do take this deal, and frankly, all the pressure in the world, and all the eyes of the world should be on them today saying 'take that deal'."
The Hamas delegation has left Cairo and will return with a written response to the Israeli proposal.
Meanwhile, the families of two Israeli hostages who appeared in a video issued by Hamas have called for an immediate deal - and the end to discussions.
Elan Seigel is the daughter of 64-year-old American-Israeli hostage Keith Seigel.
“Eighteen world leaders sent a letter saying they demand the immediate release of all hostages. And I want to ask everyone to stop the talking and start the action. We are losing people that are alive now and there is no time to waste.”
In the United States, pro-Palestinian protests have intensified on university campuses.
New York City's Columbia University has begun suspending students involved in a pro-Palestinian protest on campus after they defied a deadline to disperse.
College leaders earlier warned those failing to disband from the two-week encampment would face disciplinary action.
But as the deadline passed, dozens of students, like Sueda Polat, rallied at the site.
“We will not be moved by these intimidation tactics. You can see outside you now that the students are mobilized. There's hundreds of them here today. They will not be moved. We demand divestment. We will not be moved unless by force. The university has conducted itself with obstinacy and arrogance, refusing to be flexible on some of our most basic points. That said, we were engaging in good faith negotiations until the administration cut them off under threat of suspensions where we asked for amnesty, they gave us more discipline.”
