Kirby: US remains hopeful for ‘six weeks of peace’ with hostage deal that ‘Hamas has not completely rejected’

White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said Sunday that the United States remains hopeful for “six weeks of peace” with a hostage deal that “Hamas has not completely rejected.”

Speaking to host George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week,” Kirby said Israel assured the Biden administration that the Jewish state will not launch a campaign in the last Hamas stronghold, Rafah, “until we have had a chance to really share our perspectives and our concerns with them.”

“If we are able to get this hostage deal done, we are still working on it. Hamas has not rejected it completely,” Kirby said. “They are considering this proposal on the table. If we manage to implement it, that will give us six weeks of peace. We will have no fighting for six weeks, and that includes not fighting in Rafah. And what we hope is that after six weeks of a ceasefire temporary fire, maybe we can achieve something more lasting.

Hamas said on Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza as Egypt stepped up efforts to negotiate a deal to end the months-long war and prevent a planned Israeli ground offensive on the southern city of Rafah. Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, did not give details about Israel’s offer, but said it was in response to a Hamas proposal two weeks ago, the Associated Press reported.

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This month’s negotiations centered on a proposed six-week ceasefire and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

A separate Hamas statement said leaders of the three main militant groups active in Gaza discussed attempts to end the war. He did not mention the Israeli proposal. The statement came hours after an Egyptian delegation concluded a visit to Israel where it discussed a “new vision” for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, according to an Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to the AP.

Kirby also referred to planned aid deliveries coming to Gaza from an offshore dock the US military is currently building.

“The Israelis have begun to fulfill the commitments that President Biden asked them to fulfill,” Kirby said. “This dock is now being built. It will probably take two to three weeks before we can actually see it operational. I mean, it’s a pretty complicated procedure to get it up and running. And we’re working closely with the Israelis on how to do that.” pier would work.”

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People walk in a camp for displaced people in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, next to the border with Egypt, on April 28, 2024. (AFP via Getty Images)

Stephanopoulos also pressed Kirby about the anti-Israel protests rife with anti-Semitism taking place on American college campuses, and specifically the use of police to break up demonstrations.

“The president knows there are very strong feelings, George, about the war in Gaza,” Kirby said. “He understands that, he respects that. And as he has said many times, we certainly respect the right to peaceful protest. People should have the ability to express their opinions and share their perspectives publicly. But it has to be peaceful. We will let the local authorities determine how these protests are managed.”

Palestinians thank American students for their support of Gaza by writing on the tents they live in in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on April 28, 2024. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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“But we want them to be peaceful protests,” he added. “And obviously, we don’t want to see anyone hurt in the process of peaceful protest. But again, the president gets it. We absolutely condemn the language of anti-Semitism that we’ve heard lately, and we certainly condemn all hate speech and threats of violence that exist in these protests. We understand that they are important, but they must be peaceful.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.