Biden's description of ceasefire offer 'not accurate,' Israeli official says

JERUSALEM — President Joe Biden's description of Israel's ceasefire proposal was “not accurate,” a senior Israeli official told NBC News, as doubts grew Monday about Israel's position. the American ally on the agreement.

Biden said in a surprise announcement Friday that he was presenting a truce proposal that had been made by Israel and passed through mediators to Hamas. But as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces competing pressures – including a threat from right-wing ministers to overthrow his government – ​​a senior Israeli official took issue with Biden's characterization of the cease offer. -fire.

They specifically took issue with Israel agreeing to completely withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip as part of a deal to free the hostages.

“Israel has not changed its conditions to achieve a permanent ceasefire. This will only happen once our goals are achieved, including the destruction of Hamas’ military and government capabilities,” the official said.

The official also said that although the White House described the plan as coming from Israel, it was actually a proposal presented by mediators to which Israel made amendments and changes.

“It’s strange that they say this is an Israeli proposal and at the same time Israel has to accept it,” the official said.

The official added that Israel was awaiting Hamas' official response to the proposal.

Biden said Friday the proposal was sent to activists through Qatar, which helped negotiate for months.

Biden said Israel had proposed a “new comprehensive proposal” that would ultimately lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The three-part plan, Biden said, would include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages held inside the enclave since the Israeli-led attack. Hamas on October 7. The first phase of the plan would also provide for six weeks of a complete ceasefire.

A Hamas spokesperson released a statement shortly after Biden's announcement, saying the group “viewed positively” what was included in his speech. Biden said Friday that Hamas was no longer capable of “fighting another October 7” because Israel had devastated the militant group in eight months of fighting.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another Gaza military faction that participated in the attack, said it was studying the proposal but viewed it “with suspicion.”

Netanyahu has yet to speak publicly about Biden's proposal, and although Biden called it an Israeli proposal, the country's official position was not immediately clear. NBC News has reached out to the Israeli Prime Minister's office for clarification.

His office issued a statement on Saturday saying that the conditions imposed by Israel to end the war had not changed, and that a permanent ceasefire in Gaza was a “failure” until they are respected. But in an interview with Britain's Sunday Times newspaper, Ophir Falk, Netanyahu's senior foreign policy adviser, said Israel was not rejecting the deal. It's “a deal we agreed to — it's not a good deal, but we sincerely want all the hostages released,” Falk said.

Biden's announcement of the proposal has put Netanyahu under renewed pressure at home and abroad.

Two of his right-wing ministers have threatened to withdraw from the coalition that holds his government together if he accepts the ceasefire agreement presented by Biden. Israeli media reported Monday that Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with his National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, over his threats to leave the government.

At the same time, families of Israeli hostages have stepped up their demands for the government to reach a deal that could secure the release of their loved ones. A large rally took place in Tel Aviv on Saturday following Biden's speech.

The Biden administration also continued its pressure campaign this weekend.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Sunday evening with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and war cabinet member Benny Gantz, both saying he “commended” Israel for the proposal and that it was the responsibility now it is up to Hamas to accept it, according to a summary of the report. appeals published by the Department of State.

Raf Sanchez reported from Jerusalem and Yuliya Talmazan from London.