Seventeen nations have thrown their weight to the movement towards a ceasefire and hostage release deal now on the table and as outlined by United States President, Joe Biden on May 31, 2024.
In a joint statement released from the Leaders of the United States, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom on Gaza.
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.
During the first phase, a ceasefire lasting for six weeks, Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza population centers, and hostages, including the elderly and women, would be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Palestinian civilians would return to Gaza, including northern Gaza, and 600 trucks would bring humanitarian aid into Gaza each day, Biden said.
In the second phase, Hamas and Israel would negotiate terms of a permanent end to hostilities. “The ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue,” the President said.
The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza while the proposal has been relayed to Hamas by Qatar, Biden said.
The president called on those in Israel who were 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 Isreali leadership to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes,” Biden said.
These nations who are deeply concerned for the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza made it known that there is no time to lose, while called on Hamas to close this agreement, that Israel is ready to move forward with, and begin the process of releasing their citizens.
According to these nations, “We note that this agreement would lead to an immediate ceasefire and rehabilitation of Gaza together with security assurances for Israelis, Palestinians, and opportunities for a more enduring long-term peace and a two-state solution.
“At this decisive moment, we call on the leaders of Israel as well as Hamas to make whatever final compromises are necessary to close this deal and bring relief to families of our hostages as well as those on both sides of this terrible conflict, including the civilian populations. It is time for the war to end and this deal is the necessary starting point”, they said.
Meanwhile, cease-fire talks ground to a halt last month after a major push by the United States and other mediators to secure a deal in hopes of averting a full Israeli invasion of Gaza’s southern city of Rafah.
Israel says the Rafah operation is vital to uprooting Hamas fighters responsible for the Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that triggered the war. Israel on Friday confirmed its troops were operating in central parts of the city.
