President Joe Biden has expressed doubts about the possibility of a cease-fire deal being reached between Israel and Hamas by Monday. During a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, Biden mentioned that he had been in communication with regional leaders and while he remains hopeful, he indicated that an agreement by Monday is unlikely to happen. The White House stated that discussions have centered around the release of hostages by Hamas, with the goal of achieving an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza for at least six weeks. Plans for providing humanitarian aid to Gaza and ensuring the safe return of hostages, including Americans, have also been a focus of the talks.

Qatar has been facilitating negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with additional discussions involving U.S., Israeli, Qatari, and Egyptian officials taking place in Paris. Violence continued in the Gaza Strip on Thursday when Israeli forces fired upon a crowd waiting for humanitarian aid trucks, resulting in the reported death of at least 100 individuals and numerous injuries. The Israeli military is reviewing the incident which led to the casualties. In response, a spokesperson for Biden's National Security Council expressed condolences for the loss of innocent lives and acknowledged the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Efforts are ongoing to expand and maintain the provision of humanitarian assistance in Gaza, with a potential temporary cease-fire being explored as part of these efforts. The White House emphasized the importance of ensuring the flow of aid into Gaza and continues to work tirelessly towards achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict.