Biden hopes to have a ceasefire in Israeli conflict within a week [Video]

NEW YORK – United States President Joe Biden said on Feb 26 he hoped a ceasefire in Gaza could start by the beginning of next week.

Amid a spiralling humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, representatives from Egypt, Qatar, the US, France and elsewhere have acted as go-betweens for Israel and Hamas, seeking a halt to the fighting and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

A deal could also include the exchange of dozens of hostages for several hundred Palestinian detainees held by Israel.

Mr Biden was asked during a visit to New York when such an agreement might start, and answered: “My national security adviser tells me that we’re close, we’re close, we’re not done yet.”

“My hope is by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire,” he added.

Representatives from several parties, not including Gaza rulers Hamas, met in Paris over the weekend and “came to an …