Biden lays out new hostage-ceasefire deal he says was offered by Israel, urges Hamas to accept it

US President Joe Biden lays out what he says is the latest hostage deal proposal that was green-lit by Israel in recent days, and urges Hamas to accept it.

It is a deal “that brings all the hostages home, ensures Israel’s security, creates a better day after in Gaza without Hamas in power, and sets the stage for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” Biden says.

“Israel has now offered a comprehensive new proposal. It’s a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages. This proposal has been transmitted by Qatar to Hamas,” Biden says.

“This new proposal has three phases: The first phase would last for six weeks. It would include a full and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, the release of a number of hostages including women, the elderly, the wounded in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners,” Biden says, noting that American hostages would be among those released in this first stage.

“Additionally, some remains of hostages who have been killed will be returned to their families, bringing some degree of closure to the terrible grief.”

“Palestinian civilians will return to their homes and neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza, including in the north; and humanitarian assistance would surge with 600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza every single day.”

During the six-week first phase, Israel and Hamas would “negotiate the necessary arrangements to get to phase two, which is a permanent end to hostilities,” Biden says.

The president acknowledges that this subsequent round of negotiations will be difficult and says that the proposal on the table will allow for the first phase to be extended beyond six weeks on the condition that the negotiations between Israel and Hamas continue.

The US, Egypt and Qatar will work to ensure that those talks continue until an agreement is reached, Biden says.

Once those terms are finalized, phase two can begin, which would see the release of all remaining living Israeli hostages, including male soldiers. Israeli forces will also withdraw from Gaza during this phase, Biden says.

“As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire would become permanent,” Biden says, citing the text of the proposed deal.

“Finally, in phase three, a major reconstruction plan for Gaza would commence, and the final remains of hostages who’ve been killed will be returned to their families,” Biden says. “That’s the offer that’s now on the table.”