THE US President Joe Biden said today that Washington was checking reports that Israeli soldiers had opened fire on people waiting for food aid in Gaza, noting that the bloodshed would complicate truce talks.

Asked by reporters if the incident will complicate the negotiations, the US president answered in the affirmative. “I know it will happen.”

Gaza health authorities said Israeli fire on people waiting for food aid killed 104 Palestinians and injured 280 others.

As he left the White House, President Biden assured that Washington was checking the reports, noting that there were “conflicting versions” of what exactly happened.

However, the US president does not expect an agreement on a ceasefire to be reached by Monday, as he had predicted earlier. “Probably not until Monday, but I’m optimistic,” he said.

Both the government of Israel and the leadership of Palestinian Hamas, as well as mediators from Qatar, have expressed reservations in recent days about progress in negotiations to reach a truce in the Gaza Strip.