Israel-Hamas war: a ceasefire was proposed by the Jewish state, according to Joe Biden

US President Joe Biden announced on Friday May 31, 2024 that Israel had proposed a roadmap for a ceasefire in its war against Hamasincluding a withdrawal from populated areas of Gaza for six weeks and the release of hostages.

In a speech from the White House, Mr. Biden called on the Palestinian Islamist movement to accept this plan, submitted according to him to Hamas via the Qatari mediator.

We cannot pass up this opportunity for an agreement in Gaza. It’s time for this war to end.

The first phase, Mr. Biden said, would be a total ceasefire, with a withdrawal of Israeli troops from “inhabited areas of Gaza,” for a period of six weeks.

Release of all hostages

The end of the fighting, according to him, would be accompanied by the release of certain Israeli hostages, notably women and the sick, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

This temporary ceasefire could become “permanent” if Hamas “respects its commitments,” added Joe Biden. The next phase of the plan would include the release of all hostages still held in Gaza after being kidnapped during the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

“Not negotiable”

Earlier Friday, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh said his movement had again informed mediators that its “demands,” especially a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, , were “non-negotiable”.

Joe Biden’s announcement comes at a time when Israeli forces have advanced to the center of the city of Rafah, which has become the epicenter of the conflict, despite the objections of the international community which says it fears for the civilian population.

Israel has vowed to “destroy” Hamas, in power in Gaza since 2007 and considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, after the unprecedented attack carried out on October 7 by commandos of the Islamist movement infiltrated from Gaza in southern Israel.

More than 35,000 dead in Gaza

More than 1,189 dead, mostly civilians, were killed in the attack, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli figures. And of the 252 people taken as hostages, 121 are still being held in Gaza, of whom 37 are dead, according to the army.

In response, the army besieged the Gaza Strip and launched a bombing campaign by air, land and sea, followed on October 27 by a ground offensive, which has so far left 36,284 people dead, most of them civilians. , including 60 in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Health Ministry of the Hamas-led Gaza government.

Source: © 2024 AFP

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon -.