United States urges backing for truce proposal as Israel persists with Rafah assault.
This past Saturday, locals from several areas of Rafah reported incidents of tank fire, airstrikes, and artillery fire. "Since the beginning of the night, the bombardment by air and artillery has not stopped for a single instant," claimed a west-Rafah resident to AFP. Similarly, an AFP correspondent alleged attacks by the Israeli military and artillery explosions in Gaza City.
President Joe Biden addressed the nation on Friday, proclaiming that Israel had offered a comprehensive accord during the ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip and the release of prisoners. "Now is the time to bring an end to this war," asserted Biden in his televised address at the White House. He emphasized that this opportunity for peace should not be "squandered." Biden identified Israel's proposal as a "blueprint for an everlasting truce and the liberation of all detainees." According to him, Hamas had to approve this offer.
In a phone call, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed for acceptance of the proposal from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey. Blinken underscored the necessity for Hamas to "immediately accede" to the proposal, as confirmed by US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Friday.
Biden divulged that the Israeli proposal comprises 6-weeks of an uninterrupted ceasefire, coinciding with the extraction of Israeli forces from all inhabited areas in the Gaza Strip, and the release of numerous captives, including women, the elderly, and the ailing, in exchange for the liberation of numerous Palestinian inmates from Israeli prisons. During this six-week period, Israel and Hamas delegates must negotiate a "permanent cessation of hostilities," according to Biden. In other words, the ceasefire would only remain intact as long as discussions persisted.
The next stage of the plan involves the complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. Hamas must, then, "free all remaining captives." If both parties abide by the treaty, the confrontation will come to a halt.
Netanyahu reiterated on Saturday that Israel would persist in the war until it accomplished all its objectives. "The prerequisites for concluding the war are yet to change," affirmed the Israeli Premier. Among Israel's demands were the annihilation of Hamas' military power and their leadership capabilities, in addition to "the release of all hostages." He underscored the need to eliminate any existing danger posed by Gaza Strip.
The Israeli opposition leader, Yair Lapid, endorsed the proposition of a ceasefire and the liberation of Hamas inmates. Lapid promised to back Netanyahu if his right-wing coalition allies, who had previously vetoed an agreement regarding hostages, defied Netanyahu's decision.
The Islamic militant group, Hamas, provisionally regarded the Israeli proposal as positive. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) praised it as a "ray of hope." The Hamas must now demonstrate its desire to end the battle.
Israel authorized ongoing negotiations with the Hamas through mediators Egypt, Qatar, and the US last week. For months, mediators have been striving to secure an agreement concerning a ceasefire and the release of hostages, without success thus far.
Besides, discussions are scheduled for Sunday in Egypt about the refurbishment of the Rafah border crossing. Anticipated attendees include Israeli and American representatives, as stated by the news agency Al-Kahera. Cairo demands the "full evacuation of Israel" from the border crossing. Since the initiation of the Israeli army's control over the border crossing to Egypt in mid-May, humanitarian aid deliveries to the Palestinian realm have substantially diminished.
Fighters from the Hamas and other militant organizations executed an unparalleled attack on Israel on October 7, and, according to Israeli data, killed more than 1189 individuals. Moreover, the Hamas detained 252 people in the Gaza Strip. 121 of these captives are still in Hamas captivity, as per Israeli estimates, with 37 reputedly already deceased.
In response to the colossal assault, Israel initiated a military campaign in the Gaza Strip since then. Based on statistics from the Hamas-controlled healthcare ministry (which cannot be independently authenticated), more than 36,300 people have been exterminated to date.
