Biden Offers Israel Detailed Gaza Ceasefire Plan
- 1.06.2024, 12:41
The peace settlement includes three stages.
US President Joe Biden said that Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7 attack, as the Israeli army has significantly weakened the terrorist group's forces over the past eight months.
He said this at the White House on Friday, May 31, and proposed that Israel accept the peace agreement and outlined its terms.
“At this point, Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another October 7th, which — one of the Israelis’ main objective in this war and, quite frankly, a righteous one.
He added that the agreement proposed by Israel consists of three stages.
The first phase would last for six weeks. Here’s what it would include:
a full and complete ceasefire;
a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza;
a release of a number of hostages — including women, the elderly, the wounded — in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners;
remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families;
Palestinians — civilians — would return to their homes and neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza, including in the north;
Humanitarian assistance would surge with 600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza every single day.
With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units, would be delivered by the international community.
During the six weeks of phase one, Israel and Hamas would negotiate the necessary arrangements to get to phase two, which is a permanent end to hostilities.
He added that there are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected.
The proposal also says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, the ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.
According to Biden, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar would work to ensure negotiations keep going — all agreements — all agreements — until all the agreements are reached and phase two is able to begin.
“There are American hostages who could be released at this point, and we want them home,” Biden said, adding that he called on Israel's leadership to support the deal despite any pressure.
Then phase two: according to the US President, there would be an exchange for the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers;
Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza;
as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, a temporary ceasefire would become “the cessation of hostilities permanently”.
Finally, in phase three, a major reconstruction plan for Gaza would commence. And any final remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families.
“That’s the offer that’s now on the table and what we’ve been asking for. It’s what we need… I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some — some are even in the government coalition. And they’ve made it clear: They want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years, and the hostages are not a priority to them,” Biden underlined.
“And to the people of Israel, let me say this. As someone whose had a lifelong commitment to Israel, as the only American president who has ever gone to Israel in a time of war, as someone who just sent the U.S. forces to directly defend Israel when it was attacked by Iran, I ask you to take a step back and think what will happen if this moment is lost,” he added.