US President Joe Biden announced that Israel has proposed a new ready-to-be-implemented agreement during a speech that was streamed on X on Friday.
According to Joe Biden, the Israel-proposed ceasefire would be implemented in three stages.
The three stages of the ceasefire
The first phase would entail a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of IDF soldiers from Gaza, the partial release of some of the remaining hostages, a swap for Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of 600 trucks into the strip. This phase would last six weeks.
The second phase would be a “permanent end to hostilities.” If it were to take longer than six weeks to reach phase two, the six-week ceasefire would extend. Additionally, this would include the release of the remaining live hostages, including soldiers. This would also mean the formal permanent cessation of hostilities.
The third phase would include the reparation of the Gaza Strip. Once achieved, this phase would also include the return of the remains of the hostages who died in Hamas captivity.
Biden called the proposal a historic opportunity, and urged Hamas to accept it.
He also noted that there were those in Israel, including within its government who would rather have the war go on for longer. He pleaded with them to “take a step back
This is a developing story.