The U.S. Strongly Urges Israel and Hamas to Agree to a Ceasefire

The United States has strongly urged Israel and Hamas to sign a ceasefire agreement to end nearly 11 months of conflict in Gaza and to release the remaining hostages held by Palestinian militants. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated on Tuesday, "Dozens of hostages remain in Gaza and are still waiting for an agreement that will bring them home. The time has come to finalize this agreement." Matthew Miller made these remarks at a press conference following the discovery of the bodies of six hostages who were shot by Hamas in a tunnel in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza. He added, "The people of Israel can no longer wait. The Palestinian people, who are also suffering from the horrific effects of this war, can no longer wait. The world can no longer wait." The spokesperson for the Biden administration also announced that the United States will work with Egyptian and Qatari mediators "in the coming days to apply pressure for a final agreement." The U.S. President stated on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is not taking sufficient steps to guarantee and implement the agreement and mentioned a proposed plan for the release of hostages held by Hamas. One of the main points of contention in the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire agreement in Gaza is Netanyahu's insistence on keeping Israeli forces at the border between Gaza and Egypt. However, Miller stated that the United States opposes a "long-term presence" of Israeli soldiers in Gaza. The U.S. State Department spokesperson also noted that achieving a ceasefire agreement and the release of about 100 remaining hostages requires "both sides" to show "flexibility." Israel has found tunnels in the border area of the Gaza Strip with Egypt, known as the Philadelphi Corridor, which it claims the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group Hamas uses for smuggling weapons. Israel also states that its military operations aim to neutralize the military threat from Hamas, and if it does not control this area, the group's arms smuggling and subsequent threats against Israel will continue. Naik Cheng from Voice of America contributed to this report. Some information in the report was obtained from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse. Netanyahu: "The Axis of Evil needs the Philadelphi Corridor, so Israel must be there." Biden's criticism of Netanyahu; the U.S. President announced a "draft of a new agreement" between Israel and Hamas. U.S. lawmakers' reactions to the killing of Israeli hostages; Lindsey Graham: Iran must be held accountable. Netanyahu's concern over widespread protests in Israel following the news of the killing of six hostages in Gaza. International condemnation of the killing of six Israeli hostages; Netanyahu addressed Hamas: You will pay the price.