The president of the US has urged Hamas to accept a Gaza ceasefire by the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

A few days ago, US and Jordanian planes airdropped food aid into the beleaguered enclave, home to 2.4 million people, in cooperation with Egypt and France.

PHOTO | COURTESY US President Biden 

US Vice President Kamala Harris voiced "deep concern about the humanitarian conditions in Gaza," while the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported children dying of malnutrition in two northern Gaza hospitals.

Envoys from Hamas and the US have been meeting with Qatari and Egyptian mediators in Cairo to discuss a six-week truce, the exchange of dozens of remaining hostages for hundreds of Palestinian inmates, and the flow of aid to Gaza.

Egypt's Al-Qahera News, connected to the country's intelligence agencies, reported that the negotiations would continue for a fourth day on Wednesday.

PHOTO | COURTESY US President Biden 

Biden warned Hamas to agree to a Gaza truce by Ramadan, which begins early next week, after his top diplomat, Antony Blinken, urged them to accept a "immediate ceasefire".

He did not clarify, but the US asked Israel last week to allow Muslims to pray at Jerusalem's controversial Al-Aqsa mosque compound during Ramadan.

The Israeli government stated it would allow Muslim worshippers access to Al-Aqsa during Ramadan "in similar numbers to those in previous years."