US President Joe Biden on Friday introduced a new proposal that promises a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the region, provided Hamas agrees to the terms.
Biden called this initiative as a route to “a durable end” to the ongoing conflict, asserting that Hamas “is no longer capable of carrying out another Oct. 7,” referring to the day Hamas’s incursion into Israel initiated the war, Washington Post reported.
“It’s time for this war to end,” he declared.
The White House noted that the deal still requires some negotiation, making an immediate cease-fire unlikely. However, administration officials indicated that after months of sporadic discussions, this proposal represents the best potential resolution for both sides.
International pressure has been mounting on Israel and the United States, Israel's main military and diplomatic supporter, to halt the Israeli attacks that have resulted in over 36,000 Palestinian casualties in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. This pressure also includes calls for the return of more than 100 hostages held by Hamas. Domestic criticism of Biden's support for Israel has also grown as the Israeli military offensive continues in densely populated Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, which started over three weeks ago.
The president's remarks at the White House detailed a three-phase plan reminiscent of previous proposals that failed during negotiations. The first phase includes a six-week cease-fire, the return of women, children, and other vulnerable hostages, the release of "hundreds" of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas of Gaza, and the daily delivery of 600 trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The second phase involves negotiations for a permanent end to hostilities and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, along with the release of all remaining hostages, and will begin as soon as the initial cease-fire is implemented.
The third phase proposes a 3-to-5 year period of internationally funded reconstruction of Gaza and the establishment of a non-Hamas Palestinian government.
“This deal to stop the war is nearly identical to Hamas’s own proposals from a few weeks ago,” a senior Biden administration official, who spoke anonymously due to the issue’s sensitivity, told Washington Post. The temporary cease-fire would extend beyond six weeks until a permanent solution is achieved, provided negotiations continue in good faith and neither side breaches the agreement.
Both Israel and Hamas have responded positively to the four-and-a-half page plan . Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed his authorization of the text but stressed the importance of conditional transitions between stages.
Hamas has also welcomed President Biden’s remarks, highlighting his call for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, reconstruction, and a prisoner exchange.
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