US Working on Six-Week Ceasefire Between Israel and Hamas; Anti-Israel Protests Addled with Antisemitism at American Campuses

Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst reported on potential Israeli operations in Rafah and ongoing ceasefire talks during an appearance on “Special Report”. Meanwhile, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby expressed hope for a six-week truce between Israel and Hamas. According to Kirby’s interview with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos, the US is still working towards a deal that would see the release of 40 civilian and sick hosts in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The Biden administration has assured Israel it will not launch an operation in Rafah until after these discussions have taken place. Hamas, Kirby added, “is considering” this proposal. A separate statement revealed that leaders from the three main militant groups active in Gaza discussed attempts to end hostilities during a meeting with Egyptian officials who were visiting Israel to discuss a new vision for an extended ceasefire plan in the area. Negotiations surrounding six-week ceasefire proposals have been ongoing this month, and Kirby confirmed that “the Israelis have started to meet” President Biden’s requests regarding aid deliveries into Gaza via an offshore pier being built by US military forces, though he warned it could be another two or three weeks before the project is fully operational. Stephanopoulos also questioned Kirby about anti-Israel protests festering with antisemitism at American college campuses and asked whether police should intervene to break up demonstrations that become violent. “The president understands there are very strong feelings about the war in Gaza,” said Kirby, who emphasised that peaceful protest is essential but added: “We absolutely condemn…threats of violence out there.”