Biden presents new ceasefire offer to Israel – DW – 01/06/2024

US President Joe Biden said Israel had proposed a new “comprehensive” ceasefire and hostage release deal in the war with militant Islamist group Hamas.

Biden said the first phase of the deal would last six weeks and include a comprehensive ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of the Gaza Strip.

He added that this would then allow Palestinians displaced since the start of the war on October 7 to return home.

He indicated that this phase would include the release of some hostages by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

The US president said this would be followed by a second phase in which Israel and Hamas would negotiate a definitive end to hostilities. He said that if negotiations lasted more than six weeks, the ceasefire would remain in effect as long as talks continued.

This phase would include the release of all remaining hostages.

The third phase of the deal would involve a major reconstruction effort in Gaza, Biden said.

He added that he understood that some in Israel would not like the deal, but urged Israeli leaders to move forward regardless of any pressure. He warned that Israel could find itself further isolated from the world if it did not implement the deal.

“We cannot lose this moment,” he stressed.

“Israel has made its proposal. Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. This agreement is an opportunity to prove if they really mean it,” Biden said.

He added that Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another attack on Israel like the one on October 7, in which 1,200 people were killed and around 240 taken hostage.

He said the United States would also help forge a solution on the border with Lebanon, where Israel is engaged in hostilities with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. He said Israel could be integrated into a regional security framework that would include normalization with Saudi Arabia.

The US president urged Hamas to accept the deal with Israel and the world to pressure the militant group to do so.

“If Hamas does not respect its commitments under the agreement, Israel can resume its military operations,” he said. “Hamas must accept the deal.”

He said Washington would also ensure that Israel respected its obligations.

“It’s time for this war to end,” Biden said.