A Gaza ceasefire and the release of Hamas hostages are two of the three phases of an Israeli proposal to resolve the conflict that US President Joe Biden revealed on Friday. The 81-year-old described the “comprehensive” proposal as a “roadmap to an enduring ceasefire,” and these are its main components.
According to Biden, the first stage entails a six-week “full and complete ceasefire” during which Israeli soldiers will evacuate “all populated areas of Gaza.” Women, the elderly, and those with injuries were among the “a number” of captives taken during the October 7 strikes on Israel that Hamas will free. There would also be a return of some hostages’ slain remains. Biden stated that “we want them home” to be released from the custody of Hamas, which is holding US prisoners.
In return, hundreds of Palestinian detainees would be freed.
The “homes and neighborhoods” of Palestinian people would be restored throughout Gaza, especially the north, which has been severely damaged by Israeli bombing for months. As hundreds of thousands of makeshift shelters and housing units were being delivered by the international community, humanitarian aid was set to “surge” to 600 trucks per day into Gaza.
Israel and Hamas will “negotiate the necessary arrangements to get to phase two, which is a permanent end to hostilities,” during the first six weeks of the agreement. According to Biden, if the negotiations go forward, the ceasefire would also be prolonged. The US, Egypt, and Qatar are acting as mediators to make sure that the talks go forward.
The second phase of the plan called for the entire withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, to take place over a period of approximately six weeks.
Male Israeli soldiers would be among the “all remaining living hostages” that Hamas would release. For Hamas, this has historically been a major issue of contention.
According to the Israeli proposal, which Biden cited, there will be a “cessation of hostilities permanently” if all parties adhere to the agreement.
With support from the US and the rest of the world, a comprehensive plan for Gaza’s reconstruction and stabilization would get underway.
According to Biden, homes, schools, and hospitals would all be rebuilt. Additionally, he would collaborate.
The reconstruction phase would take between three and five years, a senior US official said. The final remains of any hostages who had been killed would be returned in the third phase. What if it goes wrong? Biden said that if Hamas “fails to fulfill its commitments under the deal, Israel can resume military operations.” But he added that Egypt and Qatar would work to make Hamas stick to the terms, while the United States would do the same for Israel.
