Biden Joins 16 Other World Leaders in Urging Finalization of Gaza Ceasefire Agreement
The White House has stated that ‘the ball is in Hamas’s court’ to accept the deal, while Israeli officials insist that they will not agree to end the war without destroying Hamas.
President Joe Biden, along with leaders from Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom, released a joint statement on Thursday urging all parties to accept the Gaza ceasefire proposal recently announced by President Biden.
According to President Biden, the first phase would involve a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza, and the release of several hostages, including women, elders, and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Phase one would also facilitate the daily delivery of up to 600 truckloads of food to the Gaza Strip.
Phase two would depend on ongoing negotiations, with the peace achieved in phase one to be maintained as long as negotiations continue. If negotiations are successful, phase two would see Hamas releasing the remaining Israeli military captives. Once this final hostage release is completed, Israel would withdraw from Gaza entirely, making the ceasefire permanent.
The final phase of the ceasefire plan, according to the President, would involve initiating the reconstruction of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and require Hamas to hand over the remains of deceased hostages.
Biden, Allies Emphasize Hamas Acceptance for Peace Deal
In their joint statement, President Biden and the 16 other world leaders called on Hamas “to close this agreement that Israel is ready to proceed with” and start releasing the hostages.
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The leaders stressed that a ceasefire depends on Hamas accepting the current Israeli terms, a sentiment reiterated by other members of the Biden administration.
The joint statement underscores, “At this crucial moment, we call upon the leaders of Israel and Hamas to make necessary compromises to close this deal and bring relief to the hostage families and those affected by the conflict, including civilians on both sides.”
Netanyahu Government Expresses Doubts on Ceasefire
Despite the emphasis by the Biden administration for Hamas to accept the proposal, the ceasefire terms outlined by President Biden seem to be met with skepticism within the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
During his presentation of the ceasefire terms on May 31, President Biden did not explicitly state that the proposal would address one of the Netanyahu government’s main objectives – the complete eradication of Hamas.
Mr. Netanyahu stated to the Israeli Knesset on Monday that any claims of agreeing to a ceasefire without meeting their conditions were incorrect.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared on Saturday that he made it clear to Mr. Netanyahu that he would not accept any agreement allowing Hamas to remain.
“We will not agree to end the war before eliminating Hamas or causing severe harm to the achievements made in the war by withdrawing the IDF and relocating Gazans to the north of Gaza, or releasing terrorists who may resume attacking Jews,” Mr. Smotrich added.
If Mr. Netanyahu loses the support of Mr. Ben-Gvir and the Otzma Yehudit party or the Mafdal-Religious Zionism party led by Mr. Smotrich, it could fracture his current ruling coalition.
