Israel’s new three-step proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.
According to Al Jazeera, US President Joe Biden said in a speech about the developments in the Middle East: “The time has come to start a new phase in the Middle East, in which the Israeli prisoners will return to their homes, so that this war ends and the next phase begins.”
Biden further added: Israel has presented a comprehensive proposal regarding the ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all prisoners. Israel’s proposal is completely new and includes 3 stages. This proposal is a road map for a ceasefire and the release of prisoners, and it was transferred to Hamas through Qatar.
Biden clarified: The first phase of Israel’s proposal includes a comprehensive cessation of hostilities for six weeks, Israel’s withdrawal from the residential areas of Gaza, and the limited exchange of female and elderly Israeli prisoners and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. According to the first phase, residents of the Gaza Strip will return to their homes, including in the north of the Gaza Strip, and 600 aid trucks will enter the Gaza Strip daily. During these six weeks, Israel and Hamas will negotiate to enter the second phase. In the second and third stages of this proposal, all living prisoners, including Israeli soldiers, will be exchanged, and the extensive reconstruction plan of the Gaza Strip will be implemented.
In another part of his speech, he said: Israel wants to ensure that Hamas is not able to carry out another October 7th-style attack. I know that some in Israel, including a number of cabinet ministers, will not agree with this plan, but I ask the Israeli authorities to support the new agreement proposal. If Hamas rejects Israel’s new offer, Israel will continue its war in Gaza.
Repeating that “Israel has the right to defend itself”, Biden continued: This agreement allows Israel to be accepted in the region and reach a historic normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia. There is a risk of increasing Israel’s isolation at the global level, and this agreement will return prisoners and peace to Israel.
The American president also said that his country will help formulate a solution for the situation of the borders of Lebanon.