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ARAB AND WORLD

Wed 05 Jun 2024 8:12 pm - Jerusalem Time

US State Department: Israel has confirmed its readiness to implement Biden’s proposal... and we call on Hamas to accept it

A US State Department spokeswoman said on Wednesday that Israel had confirmed to Washington its readiness to implement the deal proposed by US President Joe Biden regarding a ceasefire in Gaza, calling on the Hamas movement to accept the deal as well.


US State Department regional spokeswoman Elizabeth Stickney told the Arab World News Agency, saying: “We are convinced that Israel is ready to implement this deal, as it is an Israeli proposal, and they have assured us that they are ready to implement it.”


However, she indicated that there are still a number of details that must be negotiated to move from the first phase to the second phase of the deal, adding that “if the negotiations take more than 6 weeks for the first phase, the ceasefire will continue as long as the negotiations last.”


In response to a question about the UN Security Council’s support for Biden’s proposal, Stickney stressed the importance of the Security Council calling for the implementation of this deal without delay and without other conditions, noting that the United States had submitted a new draft resolution to the Council to support the proposal and called on all its members to support the resolution.


Regarding Washington’s expectations of Hamas’ position on the proposed proposal and its signing, the US State Department spokeswoman confirmed that this proposal “is almost identical to what Hamas said it would accept a few weeks ago.”


She added: “Israel is ready to implement it, and Hamas must accept this deal.”

Regarding the possibility of guarantees for all parties’ commitment to the deal, Stickney explained that “Egypt and Qatar will work to ensure that Hamas implements its obligations, and the United States will work to ensure that Israel implements its obligations.”


She continued: “The proposal includes three stages: In the first stage, there will be a ceasefire for a period of 6 weeks, the release of a number of hostages, and an increase in humanitarian aid. The second phase includes a permanent cessation of hostilities, the return of all hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The third phase will witness the start of the reconstruction of Gaza.


The regional spokeswoman for the US State Department declined to comment on the possibility of having observers on the ground to ensure the implementation of the deal. She said: “We have engaged in a wide-ranging conversation with countries around the world about what the security situation could look like at the end of the conflict, but I do not want to comment on this idea.” at present".


Last Friday, US President Joe Biden announced a three-stage plan to end the war in Gaza, and said that the first stage is supposed to last 6 weeks, and includes a “complete and comprehensive” ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of the Strip. And the release of a number of detainees, including women, the elderly, and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.


According to the US President, at this stage, the Palestinians will return to their homes throughout Gaza, and humanitarian aid will increase to 600 trucks per day. The first phase also includes talks between Israel and Hamas to reach the next phase, which is supposed to include the release of all hostages and Israel's complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.


Hamas leader Osama Hamdan said that the movement is waiting for a clear position from Israel to prepare for a permanent ceasefire and comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and that no agreement will be reached without that, indicating that Hamas has informed the mediators of its position.


On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed, in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, that the proposed agreement to release detainees in the Gaza Strip enables Israel to achieve all the goals of the war, including eliminating the Hamas movement.

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US State Department: Israel has confirmed its readiness to implement Biden’s proposal... and we call on Hamas to accept it