Biden says Israel extended new ceasefire proposal

President Biden said Israel has offered a new ceasefire proposal as Israel continues its efforts further into Rafaha town in southern Gaza.

The president, speaking from the White House on Friday, outlined some details of the Israeli proposal. The president said Qatar had submitted the Israeli proposal to Hamas. Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the United States, has not yet responded.

“Israel has proposed a new comprehensive proposal,” Mr. Biden said. “It is a road map towards a lasting ceasefire and the release of all hostages. This proposal was transmitted by Qatar to Hamas.”

The Israeli proposal includes three phases, Mr. Biden said. The first phase, lasting six weeks, would consist of a “total and complete ceasefire”, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza and the release of a certain number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the injured. – in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, the president said. The American hostages, Mr. Biden said, would be released at that point. And the remains of the deceased hostages would be returned to their families. In the first phase of the proposal, Palestinian civilians would also return to their neighborhoods “in all areas of Gaza.” Humanitarian aid would also increase.

“All of this and more would begin immediately,” the president said.

In the second phase, Israel and Hamas would negotiate the second phase of a permanent end to hostilities, Mr. Biden said. That phase would include the release of all living hostages, including male soldiers, and a withdrawal from Gaza, provided the proposal is honored, Mr. Biden said. And the temporary ceasefire will become permanent, as long as the mosque respects its commitments, the president said.

The third phase, Mr. Biden said, would include the return of the final remains of the slain hostages. It would also launch a massive reconstruction plan for Gaza.

The president's speech comes as Israel continues its advance toward Rafah in southern Gaza and as Israel faces growing international criticism over Palestinian deaths and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

President started his marks commenting on Thursday conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records.