Families of Hostages Urge Cease-Fire Agreement Supported by Biden; Israel Insists on Meeting Conditions

Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas are urging all parties to immediately accept a proposal put forth by President Joe Biden to bring an end to the nearly 8-month-long war and bring their loved ones back home. However, Israel’s government insists that conditions for a cease-fire still need to be met.

President Biden revealed a three-phase deal on Friday that was proposed by Israel to Hamas, stating that the militant group is no longer capable of launching another large-scale attack on Israel. He called for both Israel and Hamas to agree on releasing around 100 remaining hostages and the bodies of approximately 30 individuals in exchange for an extended cease-fire in Gaza.

Cease-fire negotiations came to a standstill last month after efforts by the U.S. and other mediators to secure a deal and prevent a full Israeli invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. Israel maintained that the operation in Rafah was crucial to uprooting Hamas fighters responsible for triggering the war with an attack on southern Israel on October 7.

Israel confirmed on Friday that its troops were engaged in operations in central parts of Rafah, resulting in the displacement of around 1 million Palestinians from the city and disrupting U.N. humanitarian efforts in the area.

Following President Biden’s address, families of the hostages emphasized the urgency of accepting the deal, placing the responsibility on both Israel and Hamas to agree without delay.

Gili Roman, whose sister was previously taken hostage and later released, stressed the importance of saving lives and called on both parties to adhere to Biden’s proposal for the sake of a better future for all involved, with a particular focus on Hamas.

After a meeting with Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, on Thursday, hostage families reported a lack of readiness on the part of the government to sign a deal to bring all hostages home, with no alternative plan in place.

Hanegbi indicated that the war could continue for another seven months to dismantle the capabilities of Hamas and another militant group, Islamic Jihad, in Gaza.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to achieve a “total victory” by removing Hamas from power, dismantling its military infrastructure, and securing the return of the hostages. The government reiterated on Saturday that its conditions for ending the war remained unchanged and that a permanent cease-fire before fulfilling those conditions was not feasible.

Many hostage families blamed the government’s reluctance to secure a deal for the deaths of numerous individuals in captivity.

Sharone Lipschitz, whose mother was released in a previous cease-fire, expressed heartbreak over lives lost due to delays in reaching a resolution, emphasizing the need for urgent action.

The proposal outlined by President Biden includes a six-week first phase comprising a full cease-fire, an Israeli withdrawal from densely populated areas in Gaza, and the release of select hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The subsequent phases involve the release of all remaining hostages and the commencement of Gaza’s reconstruction.

Biden acknowledged the challenges in negotiating the details but emphasized the importance of maintaining the cease-fire and defending Israel’s security interests. Hamas responded positively to the proposal, urging explicit commitments from Israel for a lasting peace agreement.

Experts noted the significance of Biden’s speech in offering hope for an end to the war and the return of the hostages, while urging Israeli public support for the proposed deal.

The international community joined in urging acceptance of the proposal, with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock calling it a crucial step towards lasting peace and calling on Hamas to demonstrate a willingness to resolve the conflict.

Despite ongoing fighting in Gaza, efforts towards a resolution have been renewed with the hope of ending the conflict and bringing the hostages home.