Israel presents a permanent peace plan to Hamas
On Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled a three-step peace plan proposed by Israel to end the conflict in Gaza. In his surprise address to the nation from the White House, Biden called on Hamas not to “lose this moment.”
He said, “Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it. Everyone who wants peace now must raise their voices and work to make it real. It’s time for this war to end.”
Israel has faced significant backlash for continuing its attacks on Rafah city, despite mounting international condemnation. Rafah is the last safe haven for over 1.1 million civilians displaced by the long-running conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has confirmed the alleged peace plan proposed for Hamas but stated that attacks on Hamas will continue. They reiterated that Israel’s conditions for ending the war remain unchanged: the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, the release of all hostages, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.
According to the proposal, Israel will continue to insist that these conditions are met before agreeing to a permanent ceasefire. The idea that Israel would agree to a permanent ceasefire before fulfilling these conditions is out of the question.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh took to Twitter late on Friday, stating that he “positively views” Biden’s speech and is willing to “deal positively and constructively with any proposal based on a permanent ceasefire, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the return of displaced people to their homes, along with a genuine prisoner swap deal,” as long as Israel “clearly announces commitment to such a deal.”
The New Peace Plan Brings a Glimmer of Hope for Gaza
For the past eight months, Gaza residents have faced life-threatening conditions from IDF (Israeli Défense Force) airstrikes, a lack of clean food and water, and other severe injuries, leading to the region’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Despite international criticism over rising civilian deaths, Israel refused to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas unless all hostages were freed. Meanwhile, Hamas insisted that hostages would remain captive until all IDF forces withdrew from Gaza and the West Bank.
The deadlock had thwarted any attempts by foreign nations to broker peace for the Palestinians in Gaza—until now. The new peace plan, recently unveiled by U.S. President Joe Biden, offers a glimmer of hope for ending the conflict for the majority of civilians currently in Gaza and the West Bank.
According to the three-step peace plan submitted to Hamas through mediators in Qatar, the first step involves declaring a “full and complete ceasefire” between Hamas fighters and the IDF for six weeks. During this period, IDF personnel will evacuate densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip. Following the ceasefire, Hamas and the Israeli government will engage in a hostage-prisoner exchange.
The newly proposed ceasefire plan for Gaza.
It is pitched as “durable peace in the middle east” – so there must be a number of pages missing? 🤔
This looks incredibly similar to Hamas proposals that Israel has rejected, but is presented as Israel’s proposal? pic.twitter.com/TaMNyP1pOR
— KHAL (@Hal9000_T1) May 31, 2024
In the second phase, the majority of hostages and Palestinian prisoners will be released, accompanied by a “permanent cessation of hostilities” and the full withdrawal of all IDF troops from Gaza and the West Bank. In phase three, a “complete reconstruction of Gaza” will be carried out with joint efforts from the U.S., Egypt, and Jordan.
With over 36,379 Palestinians killed and 82,407 wounded in Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks by Hamas, it’s crucial for both Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement to prevent more bloodshed.
Israel’s Gaza Peace Plan Unexpected: Hamas
Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s three-step peace plan proposal, the majority of Hamas officials remain suspicious of Israel’s motives. Despite being offered peace on their own terms, Hamas officials remain vigilant of further unprecedented aggression from the Israeli Défense Forces (IDF).
A Palestinian official who reviewed the new Israeli peace proposal alleges that despite Biden’s remarks, the document lacks a guarantee for ending the war from Jerusalem’s side and does not promise a complete withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza. He also claims the new plan resembles many clauses from the old (now scrapped) peace plan brokered by U.S. and Qatari officials. Without an agreement between Hamas and Israel, the fate of war-stricken Palestinians hangs in the balance.
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