Israel has presented a new “lasting” ceasefire for Gaza in return for the release of all remaining hostages by Hamas, as stated by US President Joe Biden on Friday. Biden urged the Palestinian militant group to accept the proposal.
Mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and others have repeatedly stalled, with both sides blaming each other.
During a press conference at the White House on Friday afternoon, Biden mentioned that Israel had introduced “a comprehensive new proposal” to halt the war.
Biden emphasized the importance of all those who desire peace to speak up and work towards making it a reality. He stressed that it is time for the war to come to an end and called on leaders from both sides not to miss this opportunity.
Israel has put forth their proposal, and Hamas has expressed interest in a ceasefire. This agreement presents a chance to demonstrate their sincerity, Biden added.
The proposal, according to Biden, consists of three phases, with the initial phase being a six-week ceasefire.
Throughout this period, Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza, and hostages, including elderly and women, would be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who would be returned to the enclave. Additionally, 600 trucks of aid would be permitted to enter Gaza daily, as per Biden.
The second phase would involve discussions on a permanent resolution to the conflict, with the ceasefire remaining in place “as long as negotiations are ongoing,” he explained. The third phase would focus on a substantial reconstruction plan for Gaza.
Biden’s announcement comes as attempts to secure a ceasefire came to a standstill earlier this month when Israel declined to commit to ending the war and initiated an offensive in the densely populated southern city of Rafah.
Hamas has informed mediators that it will not engage in negotiations while the ongoing aggression persists. However, they have expressed their willingness to reach a “complete agreement” which would involve the exchange of prisoners and hostages, provided that Israel ceases its bombardments of the enclave.
The recent escalation of hostilities occurred when Hamas militants attacked Israeli settlements in the south on October 7 of last year. This resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 individuals and the capture of over 200 hostages. As part of a weeklong truce in November, several captives were released through prisoner exchanges.
According to the local authorities under Hamas, the fighting has claimed the lives of more than 36,000 Palestinians over the course of the past seven months.
