US President Joe Biden presented the new Israeli yesterday plan for cessation of fire in the Gaza Strip, which was “vacated” by the Netanyahu government a little later.

To Pfirst phase of the plan, according to the American president, will be implemented full ceasefire for six weeks and Israeli troops to withdraw from ‘residential areas of Gaza Strip’. The suspension of hostilities will be accompanied by the release of some Israeli hostages, especially women and the sick, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

At second phase a prisoner exchange will take place and all hostages still alive will be released while Israeli forces will withdraw from the entire Palestinian enclave.

THE third phase includes a grand plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip.

The temporary cease-fire could become “permanent” if Hamas “keeps its commitments,” the US president added.

“It is time for this war to end,” the US president said in a speech at the White House in which he presented the road map he said was submitted to Hamas through Qatar, an emirate with a mediating role in the indirect negotiations.

Hamas is positive

“Hamas views positively what was included (…) in the speech of US President Joe Biden, for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, reconstruction and the exchange of prisoners,” the Palestinian Islamist movement said in a statement. of.

Ismail Haniya emphasized yesterday that his movement informed the mediators that the “demands” of Hamas, above all that there be permanent suspension of fire and the to withdraw the troops of Israel from the Gaza Strip, is “non-negotiable».

“Yes, but” from Israel

Without specifically referring to Mr. Biden’s speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli government was “united in the desire to return” the hostages “as soon as possible” and that Mr. Netanyahu “authorized the team of negotiators to present a plan to achieve this goal”.

However, at the same time, the Israeli government has declared that the war it is waging in the Gaza Strip will “continue”, not end “before all its objectives are achieved”, including the “return” of all hostages and “the elimination of military and government capabilities of Hamas”.

The road map drawn up allows “these principles to be observed”, Mr Netanyahu’s services added.

Anticipating Israel’s negative attitude, the US president called on the Netanyahu government to support the agreement, despite the pressure it may face

“I know that some in Israel, even members of the government, will not agree with the plan. I ask the Israelis to take a step back and think about what will happen if this moment is lost,” Biden said, assuring that Hamas is no longer in a position to carry out another attack like the one on October 7, 2023.

He also pointed out that there is a danger for Israel to be further isolated internationally if it continues the war.

“Ray of Hope”

The developments caused reactions at the international level, with the Secretary General of the United Nations Organization Antonio Guterres to call on Israel and Hamas to “seize the opportunity” that presents itself so that there is “lasting peace in the Middle East”.

The proposal is “realistic” and offers a “real opportunity” to end the war and “the suffering of civilians in Gaza”, commented the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

“I wholeheartedly agree with US President Biden that the latest proposal offers a real opportunity to move toward an end to the war and civilian suffering in Gaza. This three-step approach is balanced and realistic. It now needs to be supported by all parties”, commented the President of the Commission via X.

The proposal “offers a ray of hope and a possible way to end the deadlock of the war”, the head of German diplomacy judged for her part Annalena Burbock through X.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken promoted the new road map yesterday during phone calls with his counterparts in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, his office said.

“We cannot let this opportunity go to waste,” commented the Forum of Hostage Families in Israel, calling on so-called civil society to mobilize and put pressure on the government to accept and implement the proposal.