Netanyahu Confirms Acceptance of US Plan To End Gaza War
On Sunday, an aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel has accepted a US framework to end the Gaza war, although the deal requires further refinement. Ophir Falk, Netanyahu’s chief foreign policy adviser, acknowledged the agreement in an interview with The Sunday Times, expressing a desire to secure the release of hostages despite the deal’s imperfections.
“There are a lot of details to be worked out,” Falk noted, emphasizing that Israel’s demands, including the release of hostages and the destruction of Hamas, remain unchanged.
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Later, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the proposal with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Benny Gantz, a centrist minister in Netanyahu’s emergency coalition. Blinken urged Hamas to accept the deal swiftly and praised Israel’s readiness to finalize it, underscoring the proposal’s potential to enhance Israel’s long-term security and regional integration.
President Joe Biden’s three-phase plan, revealed on Friday, aims for an initial truce and the release of some hostages, followed by negotiations for a more extended ceasefire. This would eventually lead to the release of all remaining captives. The proposal suggests that Hamas will be involved in mediated negotiations, posing a potential conflict with Israel’s objective to eliminate the group.
While President Biden has endorsed similar cease-fire plans in the past, none have succeeded. The current proposal faces hurdles, particularly Israel’s stance against permanent ceasefires until Hamas is dismantled. Hamas, meanwhile, demands an end to the Gaza offensive and freedom of movement for Palestinians.
