After months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal.
“The deal,” said President Joe Biden at the White House announcement, “is structured in three phases.
“Phase one will last six weeks. It includes a full and complete cease fire withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas, including women and elderly and the wounded.”
In exchange, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. At the same time, Palestinians can return to all areas of Gaza. And a surge in humanitarian assistance into Gaza will begin, said President Biden.
During the next six weeks, Israel will negotiate the necessary arrangements to get to phase two, which is a permanent end of the war, explained President Biden:
“There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two. But the plan says if negotiations take longer than six weeks, a cease fire will continue as long as the negotiations continue. I’ve spoken to the emir of Kuwait and the president of Egypt, and we have pledged to make sure the negotiations keep moving forward for as long as it takes.”
When phase two begins, there will be an exchange for the release of the remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Moreover, all remaining Israeli forces will be withdrawn from Gaza and the temporary cease fire will become permanent.
Under phase three, final remains of hostages who have been killed will be returned to their families. And a major reconstruction plan for Gaza will begin.
This cease fire agreement was hard won, said President Biden.
“We’ve reached this point because of the pressure that Israel built on Hamas backed by the United States. Hamas's longtime leader, Sinwar, was killed. Hamas's strongest supporter, Iran launched attacks on Israel. Those attacks failed after my administration organized a coalition of nations to stop them. And after I ordered the U.S. ships and planes to come to Israel's defense.”
“As I prepare to leave office,” said President Biden, “our friends are strong, our enemies are weak, and there’s a genuine opportunity for a new future,” for the entire Middle East.
