US President Joseph Biden presented today in the White House the latest proposal for an agreement on the release of hostages and a cease-fire in Gaza, which was approved by Israel in the past few days, and appealed to Hamas to accept it.
It is an agreement "that brings all the hostages home, ensures Israel's security, creates a better day after in Gaza without Hamas in power, and paves the way for a political solution that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians," Biden said, Israeli media reported.
"Israel has now offered a comprehensive new proposal. It is a road map for a sustainable ceasefire and the release of all hostages. The proposal was sent via Qatar to Hamas" - said the American leader.
He stated that the proposal has three phases, and that "the first phase will last six weeks, include a full ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, the release of a certain number of hostages, including women, the elderly, the wounded, and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners."
Biden added that the American hostages would be among those released in the first phase and that the remains of some of those killed would be returned to their families.
"Palestinian civilians will return to their homes and neighborhoods in all parts of Gaza, including in the north," Biden said and announced that 600 trucks of humanitarian aid would be delivered every day.
During the first phase, Israel and Hamas will "negotiate the necessary arrangements to reach the second phase, which is a permanent cessation of hostilities," the US president explained, adding that those negotiations will be difficult and that there is a possibility that the first phase could be extended beyond six weeks if it continues. .
The US, Egypt and Qatar will work to ensure that talks continue until an agreement is reached.
When that happens, a second phase will begin in which all remaining living Israeli hostages, including male soldiers, will be released. Israeli forces will also withdraw from Gaza at that stage.
Biden said the temporary ceasefire would become permanent if Hamas met its obligations.
"Ultimately, in the third phase, the big plan for the reconstruction of Gaza will begin and the remaining remains of the hostages who were killed will be returned to their families," said Biden.
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