War in the Middle East
Biden: Israel proposes ceasefire and six-week withdrawal from Gaza Strip
Israel, Tel Aviv: Passers-by look at the photos of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip, which are attached to the walls of the hostage square
© Oded Balilty / DPA
There is renewed movement in the efforts for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip: Israel’s proposal includes a “complete ceasefire” and the withdrawal of its troops.
According to US President Joe Biden, Israel has proposed a new “comprehensive” agreement in the negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. This includes a “complete ceasefire”, a six-week withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and the release of Hamas hostages, Biden said on Friday at the White House. He called on the radical Islamist Hamas to agree to the agreement.
According to Biden, the multi-stage offer presented by Israel includes, in addition to a complete ceasefire, “the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all inhabited areas of the Gaza Strip and the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the injured, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners” from Israeli prisons.
Israel initially given green light for negotiations
With regard to the continuation of negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, Hamas has recently toughened its stance. As long as Israel does not stop the fighting in the Gaza Strip, it is not prepared to negotiate, the radical Islamic Palestinian organization said. Hamas leader Ismail Haniya reiterated on Friday that the Islamists’ core demands – a permanent ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal – are “non-negotiable.”
Last week, Israel gave the green light to continue negotiations with Hamas on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the hostages. For months, mediators Egypt, Qatar and the USA have been trying to reach such an agreement, but so far without success.
The war between Israel and Hamas, which the US and EU classify as a terrorist organization, has been going on for more than seven months. Hamas fighters carried out a major attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,189 people according to Israeli sources. In addition, 252 people were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli sources, 121 hostages are still being held by Hamas. 37 of them are said to already be dead.
In response to the unprecedented attack, Israel has since launched a massive military operation in the Gaza Strip. According to the latest figures from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, more than 36,200 people have been killed so far.
Transparency note: This article is continually being updated.