A plan aimed at achieving a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and releasing all hostages held for eight months has been pr🐬oposed by Israel♓, according to US President Joe Biden.
Spe🅺aking from the White House, Biden said the proposal was the result of intensive diplomacy by his team and has been conveyed to Hamas via Qatar, one of the main mediat🥃ors in negotiations.
The𓄧 president urged Hamas to accept the new Israeli proposal, saying it was "time for thisও war to end" and “for a new era to begin.”
The proposal comes after months of war in Gaza, which has led to widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis. The Biden🌜 administration has faced opposition from within the Democratic Party over its policy on Israel, with protests and resignations from administration officials in recent weeks.
Demonstrations have been held across the United States, with students setting up encampments on college campuses last month and human🤪 rights groups organising rallies outside the White House. The protests have called for an end to the war and a shift in US policy towards Israel.
What Is The Ceasefire Proposal?
The proposal involves three phases:
Phase One:
- A six-week ceasefire
- Wi𝓰thdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza population centres
- Exchange of hostages, including elderly and female detain🦩ees, for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners
- Return of Palestinian civi𒅌lians to Gaza, including n𓂃orthern Gaza
- Daily delivery♔ of 600 trucks carrying humanitarꦍian aid into Gaza
Phase Two:
🍸- Negotiations between Hamas and Israel to establish a permanent end to ♈hostilities
- Continuation of ceasefire throughout n🐼egotiations
Phase Three:
- Implementation of a reconstruction plan f♑or Gaza
- Reꦡturn of remains of captives who lost their lives to their families
While Biden said Israel had agreed to 🎃the plan, he no♓ted that some Israelis, including members of Netanyahu’s coalition government, will disagree with the proposal and call for the war to continue.
“They’ve made it clear: They want to occupy Gaza. ꦉThey want to keep fighting for🐷 years. The hostages are not a priority for them. Well, I urge the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal despite whatever pressure comes,” Biden said.
The plan comes after weeks of Israeli military operations in Rafah and mounting pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government over꧑ the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the ongoing captivity of hostages.
Hamas Response To Israel's Three-Phase Plan
Hamas has issued a statement saying that the group "views positively wꦬhat was included in US President Joe Biden’s speech today." Hamas also said that it would only deal with proposals if they were based on a permanent cease-fire and complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, among other stipulations.
Friday's statement echoed a statement from a d✅ay earlier in which the group said thatꦜ if Israel stops its war in Gaza, it would be prepared "to reach a complete agreement that includes a comprehensive exchange deal."
Recap Of Israel’s War On Gaza:
On October 7ꦑ, Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing over 1,100 people and taking ꦦmore than 240 hostage.
In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 36,000 Palestinians, according to health officials. The war has reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble a𒁏nd displaced the vast majority of resident🍰s.
In November, Israel and Hamas held talks, resulting in the release o🐻f ar🃏ound 100 hostages in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
In recent 𒁏weeks, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offens▨ive in Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians fled after being forced from their homes.
