Tel Aviv, Israel – An aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that Israel has tentatively agreed to the framework of President Joe Biden’s plan to bring an end to the ongoing war in Gaza. While Israel has tentatively accepted the plan, it is not without reservations, describing it as “not a good deal.”
President Biden announced the proposal on Friday, indicating that Israel had put forward a three-part plan aimed at achieving a complete cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages who have been held captive for the past eight months. The President emphasized the urgent need for an end to the conflict, stating that “it’s time for this war to end.”
However, the deal has not been finalized yet, and there is some ambiguity regarding Israel’s official stance on the proposed plan. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu seemed to contradict the plan, asserting that a permanent cease-fire in Gaza would not be considered until certain conditions were met, including the dismantling of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities, the release of all hostages, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.
Despite the reservations, Chief Foreign Policy Adviser Ophir Falk reiterated that Israel had agreed to the deal as a means to secure the release of the hostages. He emphasized that Israel’s conditions for ending the conflict remain unchanged, focusing on the release of the hostages and the dismantling of Hamas.
President Biden’s plan diverges from Israel’s objective of destroying Hamas entirely, instead aiming to render Hamas unable to carry out significant attacks on Israel. The President argued that prolonged conflict for the sake of total victory would only prolong Israel’s entanglement in Gaza.
Domestically, far-right factions within Netanyahu’s Cabinet vehemently opposed the proposed plan, underscoring the internal tensions faced by the Prime Minister. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir both expressed strong opposition to the plan, threatening to dissolve the government if Netanyahu agrees to the proposal.
The international community, including Spain, France, Germany, and Belgium, has thrown its support behind the plan, increasing pressure on Israel to accept the cease-fire agreement. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged with Arab leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the cease-fire, while Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. jointly endorsed the peace plan.
In response to the proposed plan, Hamas expressed positivity towards the elements articulated by President Biden. The plan outlines a phased approach to ending the conflict, focusing on a gradual cease-fire, the release of hostages, a prisoner exchange, and a comprehensive reconstruction effort in Gaza.
As the negotiations continue, the Israeli public is also pushing for a resolution to the conflict. Thousands gathered in Tel Aviv to advocate for a cease-fire, while advocacy groups urged parliament members to seize the opportunity to bring the hostages home. The growing momentum surrounding Biden’s plan signals a potential shift in tactics for Israel to find a resolution to the long-standing conflict in Gaza.