ALBAWABA - United States Vice President Kamala Harris have urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza after about 5 months of war during which 30,410 have been killed.
She said on Sunday: "Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table," Al Jazeera reported.
According to the VP, a ceasefire in Gaza will allow the release of hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, and it will allow the entry of a significant amount of aid to people facing famine and starvation in the Gaza Strip.
Days ago, senior UN humanitarians, briefing the Security Council Tuesday on food security in the stricken enclave, said that more than half a million in Gaza are just a step away from famine.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kamala Harris wrote: "What we are seeing every day in Gaza is devastating, and our common humanity compels us to act.
Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks."
Harris made the statement during a speech to mark the 59th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" in Selma, Alabama on March 3.
She further urged the Israeli government to make more effort to "significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses."
Nonetheless, Pope Francis also called on Sunday for a ceasefire in Gaza saying: "Enough, please." He added: "I carry in my heart with pain the suffering of the people of Palestine and Israel."
In a post on X, the Pope said: "I encourage ongoing negotiations for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and throughout the region so that the hostages may be immediately released and civilians may safely access the necessary and urgent humanitarian aid. And let us not forget martyred Ukraine."
