US President Joe Biden has unfolded a plan that Israel has proposed to end the war in Gaza that has been continuing since October 7. It has taken more than 36000 human lives of which 56 percent are women and children. The President says it is a three-phase plan to which Hamas should agree. Meanwhile, Hamas leadership has called it a positive move agreeing to bring it in place for Gazans.
The US President was reported saying on Friday that Israel had proposed a fresh Gaza ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages, and called on Hamas to agree to the new offer. It is the best way to end this conflict, he said adding “It’s time for this war to end and for the day after to begin.” According to the reports, talks mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and others to arrange a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza were repeatedly stalled, with both sides blaming the other for the lack of progress.
This proposal looks to be the outcome of increasing pressure on both President Joe Biden and Israel. Biden is being reported to have lost a significant vote bank and is being largely criticized for his aiding policies to Israel in the massacre of Gazans and is facing significant opposition even in the key election states.
There is also grown-up pressure over the Biden administration from within the USA and from important and major European states that have recently recognized Palestinian statehood. One of the major allies of Israel – France –also expressed deep concerns over Israel’s offensive in Rafah and called it “outrageous.” The French Defence Ministry also banned 70 Israeli arms companies from joining an arms exhibition near the French Capital – Paris. On the other, the United Nations has previously passed a resolution with a majority vote seeking an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. the UN’s top court – ICJ –also ordered Israel to urgently halt its offensive in Rafah and earlier ordered it to make sure that no genocide is committed in Palestine. After the court’s order, there was much pressure from the world on the US to stop Israel.
As for Israel, there is much opposition to Netanyahu from within Israel where Israel’s citizens staged protests against Netanyahu and even his office was surrounded by the public over his failure to win the war against Hamas despite eight months have passed and his inability to have Israel’s hostages released. This was in the history that Israel despite its full force could not stop the killings of its soldiers and citizens.
Another blow to Israel was a major opposition from the young of a lot of Americans and Europeans and its losses in this war were much greater than it had ever calculated. Israel destroyed the infrastructure of Gaza, stopped humanitarian assistance, and bombed shelter camps, schools, and hospitals. Killed more than 36000 people but remained unsuccessful in destroying Hamas. Israel was not expecting it at all those European countries like Spain, Norway, and Ireland would be recognizing the statehood of Palestine and call it the only way for peace in Palestine. Israel badly lost on the diplomatic fronts and its years-long efforts for recognition in the Arab world all went to waste bin. It killed people but failed to eliminate a handful of Hamas fighters. Though it came late, this offer for a ceasefire was already being expected. It was expected that no state or a usurpers’ group in the world could sustain such pressures and losses.
The reports said that this decision came when there was so much pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government at home and abroad over the deaths in Gaza and the continued captivity of the hostages. Netanyahu’s office said that Israel had authorized negotiators to present a Gaza truce deal after Biden revealed the ceasefire plan.
The Plan:
The new proposal Biden laid out is made up of three phases and breaks from previous proposals because a ceasefire would continue as the parties move through all three.
The ceasefire would last for six weeks in the first phase, Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza population centers, and hostages including the elderly and women would be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Palestinians would return to Gaza, and 600 trucks would bring humanitarian aid into Gaza each day, Biden said adding that in the second phase, Hamas and Israel would negotiate terms for a permanent end to hostilities. The ceasefire would still be continuing as long as the negotiations continue.
The third phase of this proposed truce includes a major reconstruction plan for Gaza. This has been communicated to Hamas by Qatar, Biden said. He called on those in Israel pushing for “indefinite” war to change their minds. “I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan. And will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some are even in the government coalition. They’ve made it clear. They want to occupy Gaza. They want to keep fighting for years and hostages are not a priority for them. Well, I’ve urged leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure is there,” Biden said.
“As someone who’s had a lifelong commitment to Israel, as the only American president who has ever gone to Israel at a time of war, as someone who just sent the US forces to directly defend Israel when it was attacked by Iran, I ask you to take a step back, think what will happen if this moment is lost,” he said.
“We can’t lose this moment.” Said the President. it is interesting to note that this moment came suddenly. On Sunday an Israeli airstrike in Rafah 45 Palestinians caught fire and killed. It flashed international concerns and outrage, but the US came up with a statement that Israel had not yet crossed the red line. This plan looks more political and is being with November but will help save the lives of Gazans. (Rana Kashif)
