US President Joe Biden said that Israel had offered a “comprehensive” new cease-fire and hostage release deal in the war with militant Islamist group Hamas.
Biden said that the first phase of the deal would last six weeks and would include a complete cease-fire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of the Gaza Strip.
He added that this would then allow Palestinians displaced since the start of the war on October 7 to return to their homes.
He said that this phase would include the release of some hostages by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
The US president said that this would be followed by a second phase in which Israel and Hamas would negotiate a permanent end to hostilities. He said that if negotiations take longer than six weeks, the cease-fire will remain in place as long as talks continue.
This phase would include the release of all remaining hostages.
The third phase of the deal would entail a major reconstruction effort in Gaza, Biden said.
He said that he understood that some in Israel will not like the deal but urged Israeli leadership to push forward regardless of any pressure. He warned that Israel could face further isolation from the world if it does not implement the deal.
“We can’t lose this moment,” he stressed.
“Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it,” Biden said.
He added that Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another attack on Israel like that of October 7, in which 1,200 people were killed and around 240 were taken hostage.
He said that the US will also help forge a solution on the border with Lebanon, where Israel has engaged in hostilities with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. He said that Israel could be integrated into a .
The US president urged for Hamas to accept the deal with Israel and for the world to put pressure on the militant group to do so.
“If Hamas fails to fulfill its commitments under the deal, Israel can resume its military operations,” he said. “Hamas needs to take the deal.”
He said that Washington would also ensure that Israel lives up to its obligations.
“It’s time for this war to end,” Biden declared.
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