Biden: Israel Offers Full Ceasefire with Temporary Troop Pullback
"The time has come to conclude this hostility and make way for the aftermath," declared Biden in a televised address at the White House. He emphasized the significance of not losing this opportunity for peace. Israel's recent plan aims to achieve a "permanent cessation of violence and the liberation of all prisoners," affirmed the US president. "Hamas must agree to this arrangement."
According to Biden, the momentum from Israel includes a comprehensive ceasefire and "the evacuation of Israeli forces from all populated areas in Gaza Strip, concurrently, the release of numerous hostages such as women, the elderly, and the wounded, in exchange for the liberation of many Palestinian prisoners" who are presently detained in Israeli prisons.
He further said that during these six weeks, Israeli and Hamas delegates must proceed with the discussion of a lasting truce with the condition that the truce would persist as long as the talks proceed. "So long as Hamas complies with the stipulations, a short-lived truce, as presented by the Israelis, might lead to an unceasing end to hostilities," added Biden.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the war could come to an end only once Hamas' governance and war capabilities have been "obliterated." The war only concludes when all the aforementioned targets are accomplished, claimed a statement from his office.
The Hamas itself regarded the Israeli plan as "encouraging." The components of Biden's speech on Friday about "an enduring truce, Israeli army's exit from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, and the exchange of prisoners," were found to be optimistic, declared the Islamic Palestinian organization.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock viewed this as a "ray of hope." "The Israeli offer that Biden discussed and affirmed today is a ray of hope and could pave the way out of the deadlock of the conflict," Baerbock expressed on X. She also emphasized the necessity for Hamas to take responsibility. It's crucial "to seize this opportunity for a humane ceasefire followed by a ceasefire."
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron agreed with his German counterpart's view. "Let's seize this opportunity and conclude this contention," he commented. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen considered it a "significant opportunity" and a "levelheaded and realistic" approach that must be embraced by all parties.
With regards to the ongoing negotiations about a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, Hamas had grown more rigid recently. As long as Israel still engages in conflict in the Gaza Strip, they're not prepared to negotiate, announced the radical Islamic Palestinian organization. The head of the Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, confirmed on Friday that their main demands - a prolonged ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal - "are non-negotiable."
Israel had given permission for peace discussions with Hamas about a truce in the Gaza Strip and hostage release last week. Mediators Egypt, Qatar, and the US have been trying to broker this agreement for months with no success thus far. Until now, the Israeli government had advocated for a temporary ceasefire and unwaveringly maintained its objective of razing the Hamas after the brutal large-scale raid in October that sparked the hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
During the incursion on October 7, militants from the Hamas and other radical Palestinian organizations breached the border and perpetrated atrocities against civilians. According to Israeli records, they killed 1,189 individuals. Moreover, 252 individuals were abducted to the Gaza Strip. 121 of them are still held captive by the Hamas, according to Israeli accounts. 37 of those people reportedly died.
In response to the unexpected raid, Israel undertook a massive military operation in the Gaza Strip since then. As per the health ministry of the Hamas, which is not readily verifiable, over 36,200 people were killed.
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- Joe Biden emphasized the importance of Israel's plan for a "permanent cessation of violence" and the release of women, the elderly, and the wounded as part of the ceasefire agreement.
- According to Biden, Hamas must agree to the arrangement, which includes a comprehensive ceasefire, an Israeli troop withdrawal from populated areas in the Gaza Strip, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
- British Foreign Secretary David Cameron agreed with his German counterpart's view, calling for the seizing of this opportunity to conclude the conflict.
- The EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen considered Biden's approach to be a significant opportunity and a levelheaded and realistic approach that must be embraced by all parties.
- Hamas, however, has grown more rigid recently, with their head, Ismail Haniyeh, confirming that their main demands - a prolonged ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal - are "non-negotiable."
- Netanyahu stated that the war could only end once Hamas' governance and war capabilities have been "obliterated," a stance that contradicts Biden's call for a ceasefire and negotiations.
- Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, called the Israeli offer a ray of hope, urging Hamas to take responsibility and seize this opportunity for a humane ceasefire.
- The US continues to advocate for a temporary ceasefire and negotiations with Hamas, while Israel maintains its objective of razing Hamas after the large-scale raid in October that sparked the hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
