Joe Biden, US President, announced on Friday that Israel has suggested a truce on Gaza to end the hostage situation and called upon Hamas to accept it as this would effectively bring an end to the ongoing war.
“Time for this conflict to be over and for the day after,” said Biden who is under pressure in an election year to end the eight-month-long Gaza conflict.
Efforts by mediators including Egypt and Qatar have not succeeded thus far in achieving a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that would stick. No immediate response came from either Hamas or the Prime Minister’s Office of Israel regarding Biden’s statement.
This was highlighted by three phases proposed by Joe Biden last Friday.
- The first phase would entail a 6-week ceasefire during which Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza, while hundreds of Palestinian prisoners including old people and women are returned for release. Meanwhile returning Palestinian citizens would go back home in Gaza including northern parts; and six hundred trucks would convey humanitarian supplies everyday into Gaza.
- The second phase involves negotiations between Hamas and Israel on what would be terms of permanent cessation of hostilities. “As long as we continue with negotiations there will still be a ceasefire,” said the head of state.
- Finally, the third phase consists reconstruction plan for Gaza city.
According to Mr. Biden, Qatar has already brought it up with Hamas leadership directly.
For those Israelis calling for an indefinite war, I want you to reconsider your stand.” He stated: “I am aware there are opponents within Israel that wouldn’t like this plan; they’d rather have an endless war. Some are even in the government coalition. They’ve made it clear. They want to occupy Gaza. They want to keep fighting for years and hostages are not a priority for them. Well, I’ve urged leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.”
“I need you think about what happens when you lose that moment because I have. And as someone who’s been committed to Israel my entire life, being the only American president that has ever gone to Israel during a war and just sent U.S. forces in to defend them directly when they were attacked by Iran, I ask you all,” he continued.
Some Israeli media described the speech as “dramatic” and said it appeared to be a direct appeal to Israelis. Channel 12 cut off its evening news program so as to air Biden’s speech live, according to Danny Kushmaro, who was anchoring at that time; previously the censors had not allowed for publication of details of the offer.
Earlier this year another hostage exchange proposal had called for elderly, sick and injured captives from Gazan territory being set free in return of six weeks’ truce with an extension option so as more help can be flown into there. However earlier this month, a proposed agreement collapsed after Israel declined Hamas’ demand that it would end the war permanently as part of any deal and escalated its attack on Rafah City in southern Gaza.
While stating that it was ready for a “comprehensive agreement” to end the war and an exchange of prisoners and hostages, Hamas told mediators on Thursday that it would not participate in further talks during ongoing aggression.
Jake Sullivan, national security adviser at the White House, will meet diplomats from 17 countries with citizens held hostage by Hamas in Gaza on Friday, according to an official speaking anonymously.
Israel’s military said there would be no cessation of hostilities until surviving hostages are returned as part of a pact negotiated with them – said a senior Israeli security official yesterday.
This week has been marked by reaction to an Israeli airstrike in Rafah last Sunday which killed 45 Palestinians.
