Gaza ceasefire plan under study; US, G7 express support for it
Earlier, Israel’s National Security Council Chairman Tsachi Hanegbi had said that the military operation in the Gaza Strip will continue for at least seven months.
By IAR Desk
A new ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hamas, presnted by US President Joe Biden is be8ng studied by both parties to the conflict.
ournal quoted unnamed Israeli officials as saying that the wording of the new truce plan for the Gaza Strip proposed by US President Biden allows Israel to resume combat operations at any time if his government believes that negotiations are futile.
Earlier, US President Biden said that Israel has proposed a new ceasefire initiative in the Gaza Strip , which stipulates three stages and has been handed over to the Palestinian Hamas for study.
The first stage includes a comprehensive ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from all settlements in Gaza, the release of some hostages held by Hamas, including the wounded, the elderly and women, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. The second stage stipulates an indefinite cessation of combat operations in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages. The third stage of the implementation of the initiative stipulates the start of reconstruction of the Gaza Strip that has been damaged by combat operations.
However, according to media reports Israel8 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also informed parliament that the current proposed temporary ceasefire for the release of hostages allows him to resume combat operations at a later stage if permanent ceasefire negotiations fail.
Earlier, Israel’s National Security Council Chairman Tsachi Hanegbi had said that the military operation in the Gaza Strip will continue for at least seven months. Israel’s Channel 12 had quoted Hanegbi as saying: ” Military operations in the Gaza Strip will continue for at least seven months.” Hanegbi had pointed out that the Israeli army had taken control of the “Philadelphia Corridor”, which is 75% of the border between the Palestinian Gaza Strip and Egypt.
On June 3rd, Israel’s “Kan” Radio announced that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had said that Israel was ready to stop military operations in the Gaza Strip for 42 days in exchange for the release of hostages, but ruled out ending the war before achieving all established goals, including the complete elimination of the Palestinian Hamas movement.
“We can stop combat operations for 42 days in exchange for the release of hostages, but we will not give up on achieving complete victory,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying by Kan radio at a closed-door meeting between the prime minister and members of the Knesset’s foreign affairs and defense committees.
However, soonafter, Netanyahu ‘s Office released a statement made by Netanyahu during the meeting, in which he denied that he was ready for a “ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip before Israel’s conditions for ending the war were met.
“The claim that we agreed to a ceasefire before the conditions were met does not tally with the facts,” Netanyahu said.
Kan Radio pointed out in its report that this statement was related to the plan announced by US President Biden a few days ago to end the war in the Gaza Strip and release hostages. The US leader announced that the plan is divided into three stages, but did not mention the future fate of Hamas.
The Israeli government has repeatedly stated that it will not consider ending the war in the Gaza Strip until Hamas’ military and political potential is completely eliminated.
Meanwhile, the G7 has announced its endorsement of the Biden ceasefire plan.
A statement from Italy, the G7 rotating presidency, said that the G7 heads of state and government express support for the Gaza Strip agreement announced by US President Biden.
“We, the G7 leaders, fully endorse and will support President Biden’s comprehensive agreement, which will result in an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and a substantial and sustainable increase in humanitarian aid to all of Gaza,” the statement said, noting that the agreement will finally end the crisis “while ensuring the security interests of both Israeli and Gazan civilians.”
“We call on Hamas to accept this agreement, which Israel is prepared to move forward with, and we call on countries that have influence over Hamas to help ensure that the conditions mentioned in the agreement are met,” the statement said.
On October 7, 2023, armed groups in the Gaza Strip fired a large number of rockets into Israel. The armed branch of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas annouced that it had launched Operation “Al-Aqsa Flood” against Israel. The Israel Defense Forces then announced the launch of Operation “Iron Sword” against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This is the sixth war between Israel and Hamas. Save for a week long ” humanitarian pause”, all calls for a ceasefire have proved elusive till now.
