President Joe Biden on Friday called on Hamas to take a peace deal offered by the Israelis, saying ‘it’s time for the war to end.’
He outlined a three-phase plan that would begin with an immediate ceasefire, release all the hostages and conclude with the rebuilding of Gaza.
‘Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another October 7th,’ Biden said in remarks in the East Room of the White House, urging the terrorist group to ‘take the deal.’
‘This is truly a decisive moment,’ Biden said. ‘Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it.’
‘It’s time to begin this new stage,’ he noted. ‘It’s time for this war to end and for the day after to begin.’
‘This is truly a decisive moment,’ President Biden said. ‘ Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it.’
The war began with Hamas’ sudden attack on Israel on October 7th, killing more than 1,200 Israelis and abducted about 250. Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government responded with an attack on the Gaza strip, where the Hamas group lives.
Biden made his plea for a peace deal as Israeli forces advanced into central Rafah, pushing deeper into the southern Gaza city, filled with at least a million Palestine refugees, despite international backlash and pressure from allies to scale back the attack.
‘Israel as offered a comprehensive new proposal. It’s a roadmap to an enduring cease fire and the release of all hostages,’ the president said.
He outlined the three phases:
The first would last six weeks and would include a cease fire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all ‘populated areas of Gaza,’ and the release of ‘a number’ of hostages, including women, elderly, the wounded. Some of them are Americans.
It would also include the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, returing the remains of hostages who had been killed, 600 aid trucks a day and the start of talks for phase two.
Phase two is a ‘permanent end to hostilities,’ Biden said, adding that there are many details still to negotiate still. It also would include an exchange of all remaining living hostages.
The ceasefire in phase one would run longer than six weeks if negotiations are still ongoing.
The third phase would be reconstruction of Gaza.
Biden vowed the ‘United States will work with our partners to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza’ and ‘to help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war.’
Palestinians carry some salvaged belongings as they leave the Jabalia refugee camp
Israeli tanks move along the border with the Gaza Strip on May 29
Earlier peace talks were stymied by a central sticking point: A demand from Hamas for guarantees that the war will end and Israeli troops will withdraw from Gaza completely in return for a release of all the hostages.
It’s a demand Israel rejects.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has warned the people of Gaza face famine. They’ve also seen the mass destruction of their homes, hospitals and infastructure.
Israel’s recent invasion of Gaza has cut off the flow of food, medicine and other supplies needed by the Palestinians.
They have also seized the entire border between Gaza and Egypt, where the humantarian aid was coming through.
Israel argues Hamas terrorists hide among the general population, making the destruction necessary.
Israel’s campaign in the nearly eight-month war has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 80,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
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