Israel-Gaza war: Biden unveils Israeli proposal to end conflict

Bernd Debusmann Jr and Tom Bateman of BBC News in Washington have written a blog post.

The leader of the United States, Joe Biden, has requested that Hamas agree to a fresh plan put forward by Israel to bring the strife in Gaza to a close. Biden emphasized that it's necessary for the war to conclude at this point.

The proposal comprises of three parts, commencing with a six-week truce during which the IDF will pull back from densely populated regions of Gaza.

Additionally, there will be a significant increase in the amount of humanitarian support provided, and some Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for certain hostages.

The agreement could ultimately result in a lasting end to violent conflict and significant efforts to rebuild Gaza.

Hamas has expressed a favorable reception towards the proposal.

During a speech at the White House last Friday, President Biden announced that the initial stage of the suggested strategy would entail a comprehensive peace treaty between the two sides, with the IDF retreating from inhabited areas and Palestinian captives being swapped for Israeli detainees.

"He stated that this is a critical point," he expressed. "Hamas claims that it desires a truce. This agreement presents a chance to demonstrate if they are truly committed to it."

He mentioned that the truce will give way for increased delivery of assistance to the distressed region. He stated that 600 trucks loaded with aid would be able to enter Gaza daily.

During the second stage, the remaining hostages who are still alive, including male soldiers, will be released. After that, the ceasefire will become permanent and there will be no more hostilities.

Many individuals, including David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary of the UK, have encouraged Hamas to accept the proposal. Cameron stated on X that it is crucial for the group to agree to the deal in order to bring an end to the conflict.

Lord Cameron has stated that ceasing the fighting can become a lasting peace if we make the right moves. He urges everyone to take advantage of this opportunity and work towards ending the conflict.

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, expressed his approval of the progress through a post on social media platform X (previously known as Twitter). He emphasized the extensive amount of pain and devastation that Gaza has endured, and declared that it is now imperative to bring an end to it.

He expressed his support for President Biden's efforts and urged all involved groups to take advantage of the opportunity to establish a truce, free all captives, ensure unobstructed access to humanitarian aid, and eventually achieve a lasting peace in the Middle East, according to him.

During his address, Mr. Biden recognized that it would not be easy to bargain between the first and second stages.

Just a few days ago, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, made it clear that he strongly disagreed with the idea of ending the war as part of a deal to cease hostilities. This makes Mr. Biden's mention of ending the war extremely important.

Even though the current proposal includes several elements that were previously introduced in unsuccessful negotiations, the US's request for a lasting peace agreement seems like a noteworthy compromise aimed at encouraging Hamas to re-engage in discussions that they have already indicated they are willing to accept. An enduring cessation of hostilities has been a crucial stipulation for the organization.

In the proposal's third stage, any remaining bodies of Israeli hostages who passed away would be brought back. Additionally, a project to reconstruct homes, schools, and hospitals with aid from the US and other countries would take place.

During his speech, Mr. Biden recognized that there may be Israelis who do not agree with his proposal, even among members of the Israeli government.

He mentioned that he has requested the Israeli leaders to support the agreement without any influence from the political situation.

The President of the United States also spoke directly to the people of Israel, urging them to seize this opportunity and not let it slip away.

Mr Biden stated that Hamas has been significantly weakened, preventing it from conducting another attack similar to the one conducted by its fighters on the 7th of October. This indicates, most likely, to the Israelis that the conflict has concluded in the eyes of the US government.

The Prime Minister, Netanyahu, declared that until their goals were met, such as retrieving all hostages and disabling Hamas' military and governance abilities, the war would persist. He stated that the most recent strategy would permit Israel to achieve these aims.

Hamas responded to the proposal with a positive attitude. They appreciate the suggestion because it includes the idea of having a long-lasting ceasefire, the removal of Israeli troops from Gaza, rebuilding the area, and also exchanging prisoners.

The team expressed its willingness to handle any suggestion that focuses on an enduring truce in a positive and productive manner, as long as Israel makes a clear promise to that effect.

A different Palestinian representative who is informed about the talks and has observed the recent Israeli suggestion mentioned that the paper lacks a promise of stopping the war and also doesn't ensure the complete retreat of IDF soldiers from Gaza.

The suggestion was sent to Hamas using intermediaries located in Qatar.

At the same time, Antony Blinken, who is the Secretary of State for the United States, reached out to his peers in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey in an effort to create a broader backing for the suggestion.

The spokesperson for the State Department, Matthew Miller, reported that Mr. Blinken had highlighted the importance of Hamas agreeing to the deal. He also stated that all countries with connections to Hamas should urge them to accept it immediately. This statement was made on Friday night.

President Biden has been under increasing pressure from his fellow Americans as civilian deaths escalate in Gaza. Criticism has been mounting due to the level of US support for Israel, and there are now pleas for him to take more action to persuade both sides to come to the negotiating table.

At the beginning of the week, the White House stated that they do not consider the actions taken by Israel in Rafah to be a significant operation that would require a major change in the United States' approach.

Following the Israeli targeted aerial attack which consequently led to an inferno and claimed the lives of no fewer than 45 Palestinians on Sunday, the declaration was issued.

On Friday, American legislators from different political parties extended an official invitation to Mr. Netanyahu to give a speech in Congress located in Washington.

The exact date for the address is unknown.

Since the conflict's beginning, over 36,000 people have lost their lives in Gaza, as reported by the health ministry under Hamas control.

In October, the hostilities commenced as Hamas militants carried out an unanticipated assault on Israel, resulting in the demise of roughly 1,200 individuals and capturing 252 as captives to Gaza.