NEW DELHI:
US President Joe Biden
on Friday said that Israel had proposed a ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages, and urged
Hamas
to accept the new offer, stating that it was the most effective way to end the ongoing conflict.
"It's time for this war to end and for the day after to begin," said Biden, who is facing pressure during an election year to bring the eight-month-long Gaza conflict to a close.
Despite mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and others, ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the militant group Hamas have repeatedly stalled, with both sides accusing each other of hindering progress. Neither the Israeli prime minister's office nor Hamas immediately responded to Biden's comments.
The new proposal outlined by Biden on Friday consists of three phases. The first phase would involve a six-week ceasefire, during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza, and hostages, including the elderly and women, would be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Palestinian civilians would return to Gaza, including northern Gaza, and 600 trucks would deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza daily.
In the second phase, Hamas and Israel would negotiate the terms of a permanent end to hostilities, with the ceasefire continuing as long as negotiations are ongoing. The third phase would involve a major reconstruction plan for Gaza. Qatar has communicated the proposal to Hamas, according to Biden.
The president appealed to those in Israel who are advocating for an "indefinite" war to reconsider their position. He acknowledged that some, even within the government coalition, may disagree with the plan and call for continued occupation of Gaza and years of fighting, with hostages not being a priority for them. However, Biden urged Israeli leadership to support the deal despite any pressure they may face.
Several Israeli media outlets described Biden's speech as dramatic and interpreted it as an attempt to directly appeal to the Israeli public. Channel 12, a leading news channel, interrupted its evening news show to broadcast Biden's speech live. According to anchor Danny Kushmaro, Israel's censor had previously prohibited the publication of the offer's details.
An earlier hostage proposal put forward this year called for the release of sick, elderly, and wounded hostages in Gaza in exchange for a six-week ceasefire that could be extended to allow for more aid to be delivered into the enclave. However, the proposed deal collapsed earlier this month after Israel refused to agree to Hamas' demand for a permanent end to the war as part of the negotiations and intensified its assault on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
On Thursday, Hamas stated that it had informed mediators that it would not participate in further negotiations during ongoing aggression but was prepared for a "complete agreement," including an exchange of hostages and prisoners, if Israel ended the war.
According to a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan would meet on Friday with diplomats from 17 countries whose citizens are being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas.
A senior Israeli security official stated on Friday that Israel will not agree to any halt in fighting that is not part of a deal that includes the return of surviving hostages.
The week has been dominated by the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Rafah on Sunday that killed 45 Palestinians.
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