Calls for Gaza truce grow, Hamas wants Biden plan implemented

GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories: International pressure mounted on Monday for a ceasefire in Gaza as Britain, France and Germany made a joint plea for an end to fighting between Israel and Hamas with “no further delay”.

The call came a day after Hamas urged mediators to implement a truce plan presented by US President Joe Biden instead of holding more talks. “The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released,” French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a joint statement.

“The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid,” it said. “There can be no further delay.” International mediators have invited Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations, after deadly strikes in the Gaza Strip and the killings of Iran-aligned militant leaders sparked fears of a wider conflict.

Israel has accepted the invitation from the United States, Qatar and Egypt to send negotiators for talks planned for Thursday. “The reason we´re doing that is to finalise the details of the implementation of the framework agreement,” Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told a news conference.

The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was slow to publicly embrace the proposal after Biden laid it out on May 31, even as the US president described it as an Israeli plan. Some far-right Israeli ministers still oppose it.

Hamas said on Sunday it wanted the implementation of the three-phase plan, which the UN Security Council has endorsed, “rather than going through more negotiation rounds or new proposals”.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “welcomes the mediation efforts... and urges both sides to rejoin negotiations and conclude the ceasefire and hostage release deal”, said his deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Biden spoke on Monday with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany and Italy to discuss tensions in the Middle East.

The Pentagon earlier said US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had ordered an aircraft carrier group to hasten its arrival in the region. Israel´s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday it had strengthened defences and organised “offensive options” as “threats from Tehran and Beirut may materialise”.

Gaza officials told AFP on Monday that they had identified the bodies of 75 of those killed, while others were charred and torn apart. In the city of Khan Yunis, ravaged by months of bombardment and battles, AFP journalists on Sunday reported hundreds of Palestinians had fled northern neighbourhoods after Israel issued fresh evacuation orders.