Biden Urges Release of Hostages and Peace Deal in Gaza

WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden on May 31 delivered an unplanned speech concerning the escalating situation in the Middle East.

He presented the Israeli peace plan, stating that “it’s a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages.”

President Biden urged Hamas to accept the plan. His remarks come after the terrorist organization announced it would accept a “complete agreement” provided Israel ended the war.

During his speech, President Biden detailed the Israel proposal, which comprises three phases.

The first phase of the deal would last six weeks and include a complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, and release of hostages, including women, the elderly, and the wounded, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

It also includes the release of American hostages and the return of remains of those killed, as well as the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes in all areas of Gaza, including the north.

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During the initial six-week phase, Israel and Hamas would negotiate the necessary arrangements to transition to the second phase, which aims to establish a permanent ceasefire, President Biden said.

“The ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations continue,” he added.

Phase two includes the exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire.

The final phase involves a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of hostages who’ve been killed.

This proposal has been sent to Hamas by Qatar, President Biden said.

“This is truly a decisive moment,” he noted, urging both sides to reach an agreement.

“Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it. Hamas needs to take the deal,” President Biden said.

The White House earlier confirmed that Israel came up with a fresh proposal this week on the hostage and ceasefire deal but declined to elaborate on the proposal.

On May 30, Hamas said in a statement that it is ready “to reach a complete agreement” that includes an exchange of all hostages and prisoners if Israel ends its war in Gaza.

“Today, we informed the mediators of our clear position that if the occupation stops its war and aggression against our people in Gaza, our readiness is to reach a complete agreement that includes a comprehensive exchange deal,” the terrorist organization said in the statement, according to Reuters.

President Biden’s speech comes after Israel launched a deadly strike on May 26 in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which resulted in the deaths of at least 45 Palestinians.

Earlier, the White House stated that the recent strike in Rafah had not crossed the red line set by President Biden for halting U.S. arms shipments to Israel.

“As a result of this strike on Sunday, I have no policy changes to speak to,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during a press briefing on May 28.

“The Israelis are going to investigate it. We’re going to be taking great interest in what they find in that investigation. And we’ll see where it goes from there,” he added.

President Biden in early May threatened to halt the supply of “the weapons and artillery shells” if Israel launched a major offensive in Rafah.

“We don’t want to see a major ground operation in Rafah. We haven’t seen that at this point,” Mr. Kirby said.

Israeli airstrikes on May 26 killed at least 45 people, the majority of whom were sheltering in tents in Rafah after being displaced by the ongoing conflict.

Israel’s military stated that two senior terrorists were also killed during the attack.

On May 28, the Israeli Defense Forces released their preliminary findings, which suggested that the fire was caused by a secondary explosion rather than the initial strike.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the airstrike in Rafah as a “tragic mistake” and promised that his government would investigate the incident further.

“Despite our utmost efforts not to harm innocent civilians, last night there was a tragic mistake,” Mr. Netanyahu told Israel’s parliament on May 27.

However, he said his government wouldn’t bow to domestic or international pressures to abandon its goal of eliminating Hamas.

“Let me be clear: I will not yield or surrender. I will not end the war before achieving all our goals. Our fallen heroes will not have died in vain,” he said in reaction to the International Criminal Court (ICC) decision, ordering an end to Israeli military activities in Rafah.

President Biden has repeatedly expressed concerns that a large-scale military operation in Rafah could risk harming civilians.

The city served as the last sanctuary in the Gaza Strip for nearly 1.4 million displaced Palestinians.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on May 31 that its military operation has advanced into central Rafah for the first time.

“IDF troops in central Rafah located Hamas rocket launchers, terror tunnel shafts, and weapons. The troops also dismantled a Hamas weapons storage facility in the area,” the IDF said in a statement.

The United States built a temporary pier to deliver additional humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, it was reportedly damaged recently by rough seas.