MANAMA: US President Joe Biden’s main adviser on the Middle East said on Saturday there would be a “significant pause” in fighting if Hamas agrees to release prisoners.

“The surge in humanitarian relief, the surge in fuel, the pause… will come when hostages are released,” Brett McGurk told a security conference in Bahrain.

Release of a large number of prisoners would result in “a significant pause… and a massive surge of humanitarian relief”, he said.

McGurk said Biden had discussed the issue on Friday evening with the emir of Qatar, which is leading mediation efforts towards a ceasefire and release of the prisoners.

The White House said President Biden and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed “the urgent need for all hostages held by Hamas to be released without further delay”.

Two days earlier Biden had said he was “mildly hopeful” of reaching a deal to free the prisoners, believed to include about 10 US citizens.

So far efforts by Qatar have led to the release of four of the prisoners.

McGurk said the situation in the besieged Palestinian territory was “horrific” and “intolerable”.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, who also attended the Bahrain conference, said it was “unacceptable” to link humanitarian pauses to a prisoner release.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Famine in waiting
Updated 19 May, 2025

Famine in waiting

Without decisive action, Pakistan risks falling deeper into a chronic cycle of hunger and poverty. Food insecurity is most harrowing in Gaza.
Erratic policy
19 May, 2025

Erratic policy

THE state needs to make up its mind on the import of used vehicles. According to recent news reports, the FBR may be...
Overdue solace
19 May, 2025

Overdue solace

LATE consolation is a norm for Pakistanis. Although welcome, a newly passed bill that demands tough laws and...
War and peace
Updated 18 May, 2025

War and peace

Instead of constantly evoking the spectre of war, India and Pakistan should work towards peace.
Unequal taxation
18 May, 2025

Unequal taxation

PAKISTAN’S inefficient, growth-inhibiting, distortive and unjust tax system can justifiably be described as the...
Health crimes
18 May, 2025

Health crimes

MULTAN’S Nishtar Hospital, south Punjab’s largest public-sector hospital, was in the news last year for...