In a significant address, President Biden proposed a plan to end the eight-month conflict, beginning with a six-week phase in which Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza.
The conflict has resulted in at least 36,284 fatalities in Gaza due to Israel’s offensive.
Jerusalem: On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the Gaza war would persist until Hamas’s ability to govern and wage war was entirely dismantled. This statement followed US President Joe Biden’s announcement that Israel had presented a new peace roadmap.
“The prime minister authorized the negotiating team to propose a plan for achieving (the return of hostages), while firmly stating that the war will not conclude until all objectives are met, including the return of all hostages and the dismantling of Hamas’ military and governmental capabilities,” Netanyahu’s office stated.
“The specific plan proposed by Israel, which includes conditional transitions from one stage to another, allows Israel to uphold these principles,” the statement added.
In his first major address on resolving the conflict, Biden outlined a proposal starting with a six-week phase during which Israeli forces would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza.
“It’s time for this war to end and for the day after to begin,” Biden said in a televised address from the White House, emphasizing that “we can’t lose this moment” to secure peace.
The Gaza war began following Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, resulting in 1,189 deaths, mostly civilians, according to AFP figures based on Israeli official sources.
Militants also captured 252 hostages, with 121 still held in Gaza, including 37 that the army believes are deceased.
