Biden: ‘It’s time for this war to end, and the day after to begin.’
Biden: ‘It’s time for this war to end, and the day after to begin.’
“At this point, Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7th,” Biden said.
President Biden today urged Hamas to accept, and Israel to stay behind, a new proposal to end the Gaza war and release all the hostages that was transmitted to Hamas last night, saying after eight months of war, Hamas is no longer capable of launching an Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
“It’s time for this war to end, and the ‘day after’ to begin,” Biden said in remarks at the White House today (May 31).
“At this point, Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7th,” Biden said.
“Hamas says it wants a ceasefire, and this deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it,” a senior U.S. administration official, speaking not for attribution, said in a subsequent Zoom with reporters this afternoon.
“This deal does stop the war,” the official said. The new roadmap “is nearly identical to Hamas’ own proposal a few weeks ago,” he added.
The first phase of the three-phase proposal would have a six week ceasefire in Gaza; the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza; the release of some hostages as well as the remains of some hostages; Palestinian civilians could return to their former homes in Gaza, and a surge in humanitarian aid, according to a White House fact sheet.
The second phase would involve a permanent end to hostilities, exchange for the release of remaining living hostages, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza.
The third phase would involve a major reconstruction plan for Gaza, and the final remains of hostages would be returned to their families.
President Biden said the six week ceasefire in the first phase would be extended if Hamas and Israel needed more time to negotiate the second phase, and said the United States as well as Qatar and Egypt would serve as guarantors of the deal.
“The United States will help ensure that Israel lives up to their obligations,” Biden said. “We'll do our part. This is truly a decisive moment.”
“But I need your help,” Biden said. “Everyone who wants peace now must raise their voices. Let the leaders know they should take this deal, work to make it real, make it lasting and forge a better future out of the tragic terror attack… It's time to begin this new stage, for the hostages to come home, for Israel to be secure, for the suffering to stop.”
“It’s time to raise your voices to demand Hamas come to the table and agree to this deal,” he said.
While Biden urged people to press Hamas to agree to the deal, he also acknowledged that some members of the Israeli cabinet are calling for a permanent Israeli occupation of Gaza.
“I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan, and will call for the war to continue indefinitely,” he said. “Some are even in the government coalition and they’re made it clear they want to occupy Gaza. They want to keep fighting for years, and hostages are not a priority to them.”
“I’ve urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.”
Why now?
Former State Department official Joel Rubin said the US administration saw a window of opportunity for an exit ramp from the war, and thought it was time to go public to increase pressure on all sides to accept a deal.
“I think they see a window of opportunity, where there is convergence between the two parties…, but it does not necessarily translate to a final agreement,” Rubin said. “So now, by going public, Biden is increasing the stakes and the pressure on the parties to agree, and telegraphing to everyone who has a vested interest in seeing the war come to an end and get the hostages released, to get involved.”
In a sign of efforts to shore up prominent Democratic support, Biden’s former boss, former US President Barack Obama, publicly endorsed Biden’s vision and what he called the “steady, tireless efforts of President Biden, Secretary of State Tony Blinken and our diplomatic team to bring this awful war to an end.”
“Today, President Biden put forward a clear, realistic and just plan to establish an immediate ceasefire and end the war in Gaza,” Obama tweeted.
“President Biden is right: it’s time for this war to end, for the hostages to come home, and for the rebuilding of Gaza to begin,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) said in a statement. “The only way we can achieve long term security for both the state of Israel and the Palestinian people is if both sides commit to seeing this deal through and focus on the day after.”
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The Palestinians could return to what homes?? Return them to the West Bank and kick out the settlers.