US Pushes for Immediate End to Israel-Gaza War, Urges Against Occupation
US President Joe Biden made a decisive call on Thursday for an immediate end to the Israel-Gaza war, stating that any post-war arrangements must exclude the occupation of Gaza by Israel. During a press conference, Biden confirmed that both Israel and Hamas had agreed to a cease-fire framework proposed by the United States, although he acknowledged that significant details still needed to be ironed out.
“This framework is now agreed on by both Israel and Hamas. So I sent my team to the region to hammer out the details,” Biden explained. The plan, detailed by Biden in late May, consists of three phases aimed at achieving a cease-fire, the exchange of hostages and prisoners between Israel and Gaza, a full Israeli withdrawal, and the subsequent rebuilding of the Gaza Strip.
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CIA Director Bill Burns and US Middle East envoy Brett McGurk are actively involved in the region, meeting with counterparts to discuss the intricacies of the cease-fire deal. “These are difficult, complex issues. There are still gaps to close. We’re making progress. The trend is positive. I’m determined to get this deal done and bring an end to this war, which should end now,” Biden remarked, expressing a mix of cautious optimism and determination.
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has shown flexibility by dropping a prior demand that Israel first commit to a permanent cease-fire before any agreement could be signed. On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that the agreement must not restrict Israel from achieving its war objectives, which initially included the annihilation of Hamas.
Despite these ongoing challenges, Netanyahu’s office affirmed on Wednesday his commitment to securing a cease-fire deal as long as it respects Israel’s strategic red lines. In his press briefing, Biden also offered some critique of Israel’s approach during the war, noting that “Israel occasionally was less than cooperative.”
