“This is truly a defining moment,” Biden said as he discussed the new three-phase deal, which he said Israeli officials passed on to Hamas through Qatari intermediaries. “Israel presented its proposal. Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. This deal is an opportunity to prove if they really mean it.” Biden said in a speech at the White House.
According to the proposed agreement, in the first phase saw a six-week truceduring which it would Israeli forces withdrew from populated areas The Gaza Strip, Palestinians could return to their homes and Israel and Hamas would begin talks on a permanent end to the fighting, the president said. If these negotiations lasted more than six weeks, the ceasefire would continue in the first phase until an agreement was reached.
In the second phase, Hamas would release all the hostages and Israel would withdraw all its forces from the Gaza Strip. The third and final phase, according to the president, would refer to a “comprehensive reconstruction plan” for the war-ravaged Palestinian territory.
“Everyone who wants peace must now raise his voice and try to bring it to life. It’s time for this war to end,” Biden said.
Hamas is ready
In response, Hamas said that it views the content of the proposal, as presented by Biden, positively. “Hamas confirms that it is ready to deal positively and constructively with any proposal that will be based on a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal (of Israeli forces) from the Gaza Strip, the reconstruction of Gaza and the return of displaced persons to their homes, together with the fulfillment of a genuine exchange agreement prisoners, if the occupation (Israel, ČTK note) clearly announces its commitment to such an agreement,” the terrorist movement said in a statement.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office responded to Biden’s announcement by saying that the prime minister had instructed his negotiators to submit a draft agreement to Hamas that would secure the return of the Israeli hostages.
However, he reiterated that the war will not end until all war objectives are achieved, including the release of hostages and the destruction of Hamas’ military and governmental capacities.
Don’t miss the opportunity
Earlier in his speech, the head of the White House said that he is aware that not all Israelis, including some members of the government, will agree with the proposed agreement. He therefore called on the leaders of the Jewish state not to miss this opportunity and also to support the agreement. According to him, its fulfillment would lead to a more secure Israel, while otherwise Israel would risk further isolation in the world.
“As someone who has a lifelong commitment to Israel, as the only American president ever to go to Israel in time of war, as someone who recently sent American forces to the direct defense of Israel when it was attacked by Iran, I am asking you to take a step back and they thought about what would happen if we lost this moment.” Biden said. “We must not lose this moment,” he added.
A senior US official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, said Israel was able to make a new offer to Hamas because of its recent successes on the battlefield. “Now there really is a plan to end the crisis. It is a detailed agreement of four and a half pages,” he said.
“It was again negotiated down to the smallest detail. And what’s on the table now is really a sort of conclusion to the whole process,” he added, adding that each phase is scheduled to last 42 days. According to him, Israel submitted the proposal to the Qatari mediators already on Thursday.
Several Israeli media described Biden’s speech today as “dramatic” and interpreted it as an attempt to make a direct appeal to the Israeli public. Channel 12 interrupted its evening news to broadcast Biden’s speech live.
Efforts to conclude an agreement on an armistice in the war have been stalled for several months. The main point of contention is Hamas’ demand that Israel guarantee a permanent end to the fighting and a complete withdrawal of its troops from the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages. Netanyahu’s governing coalition, which relies on far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, however he refuses and insists on meeting all the war goals, which include, in addition to the destruction of Hamas in the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages, the fact that the Gaza Strip must never again pose a threat to Israel.
However, in today’s speech, Biden also stated that Hamas is no longer capable of the October 7 terrorist attacks, in which 1,200 people died and another 250 were taken hostage, repeat. A retaliatory Israeli offensive since then has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-controlled authorities.