US vice president calls for ‘immediate’ six-week ceasefire
“What we are seeing every day in Gaza is a tragedy,” Kamala Harris said during a speech in Selma, Alabama.
“There must be an immediate ceasefire”, she said, adding that it should be for six weeks, stopping short of the scores of world governmental and humanitarian leaders, including of the UK, one of the US’s closest allies, who have called for a permanent end to the war in Gaza.
“We saw hungry desperate people approach aid trucks, simply trying to secure food for their families, after weeks of nearly no aid reaching northern Gaza,” she said, referring to an incident in Gaza City on Thursday that saw Israeli troops kill more than 100 starving Palestinians in Gaza City. “And they were met with gunfire and chaos,” she continued, without naming Israel as the perpetrator of that massacre.
Despite her criticism of Israel, Harris was also very vocal about her support for the country. “President Joe Biden and I are unwavering in our commitment to Israel’s security,” she continued, adding that Hamas must be destroyed.
‘No excuses’: Harris rebukes Israel over Gaza aid
Harris called out Israel for not doing enough to ease the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza. “People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane and our common humanity compels us to act,” Harris said. “The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses.”
She laid out specific ways Israel can allow more aid into Gaza.
“They must open new border crossings. They must not impose any unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of aid. They must ensure humanitarian personnel, sites and convoys are not targeted, and they must work to restore basic services and promote order in Gaza, so more food, water and fuel can reach those in need.”
US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Edmund Pettus Bridge during an event to commemorate the 59th anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Selma, Alabama, on March 3, 2024
CNN's version https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/03/politics/kamala-harris-gaza-ceasefire/index.html
Negotiations for a ceasefire stall amid Israeli boycott
Negotiations around ceasefire talks have stalled. Israeli officials speaking anonymously to Israeli media have said Israel decided against sending a delegation to Cairo. That’s because Hamas did not release a list of names of all of the captives who are still alive.
This is something that came at the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, Hamas has said they are not willing to give up that kind of information until there is a finalised deal. And that remains elusive. Hamas says their position remains the same. They are looking for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the war.
The Israelis say even if there is a six week pause, they are going to continue their military activities. Just on Sunday, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said under no circumstances will the war end until there is total defeat of Hamas.
Israeli forces blow up home of deceased Palestinian in Nablus
Our Al Jazeera Arabic colleagues are reporting that Israeli forces have stormed the city of Nablus and demolished the apartment of Moaz Al-Masry, a Palestinian man killed by the Israeli military last May.
Palestinian groups fired bullets at Israeli forces in the vicinity of the home in the Al-Makhfiya neighbourhood of the city in the occupied West Bank.
Elsewhere, the Israeli military fired bullets and tear gas as they raided the city of Tulkarem, the Wafa news agency reports. Israeli military vehicles also stormed the nearby Nour Shams camp, where clashes broke out and an Israeli bulldozer was blown up.
Raids and arrests have been reported elsewhere in the occupied West Bank in the following locations:
- Israeli forces detained two men from the town of Ya’bad and stormed the villages of Al-Jalama, Deir Ghazala, Arana, Arbouna, Faqoua, and Jalboun in the Jenin Governorate.
- Israeli forces attacked eight men and arrested one of them in the Old City of Hebron.
قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي تفجر منزل الشهيد معاذ المصري في حي المخفية في نابلس#حرب_غزة #فيديو pic.twitter.com/4HmuxE4sSw
— الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) March 4, 2024
Translation: Israeli occupation forces blow up the house of the martyr Moaz Al-Masry in the Al-Makhfiya neighbourhood in Nablus
