'Hamas must agree Gaza ceasefire deal'

US warning that Palestinians face starvation

- Mark Reynolds

THE US has called for an immediate six-week ceasefire in Gaza as it warned that more than a million refugees were facing starvation.

American Vice-President Kamala Harris urged Israel to "significantly increase the flow of aid".

She was speaking as talks between Hamas and mediators in Egypt continued to stall.

Ms Harris warned "there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks", which would "get the [Israeli] hostages out".

Speaking at an event in Alabama, she said: "What we are seeing every day in Gaza is devastating.

"We have seen reports of families eating leaves or animal feed, women giving birth to malnourished babies.

with little or no medical care and children dying from malnutrition and dehydration.

"As I have said many times, too many innocent Palestinians have been killed." The Vice-President stressed that "our common humanity compels us to act". She reiterated President Joe Biden's commitment "to urgently get more life-saving assistance to innocent Palestinians in need".