Explained: Biden details Israel’s new three-phase ceasefire proposal amid Gaza war. What is it about?

United States President Joe Biden, on Friday (May 31) unveiled a three-phase Israeli proposal to the Palestinian militant group Hamas seeking to end the almost eight-month-long war. If accepted, the proposal in question would lead to a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave and the release of hostages held by Hamas. 

‘It’s time for this war to end’

Speaking about the plan, the US president said that Israel’s ceasefire proposal will have three phases which will begin with a six-week complete ceasefire, see the return of hostages in Gaza, the release of Palestinians from Israeli jails, and reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave which has been destroyed amid months of fighting. 

“It’s time for this war to end, for the day after to begin,” said Biden in a televised speech from the White House. He added, “Israel has offered a comprehensive new proposal. It’s a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages.” 

WATCH | US President Joe Biden says time for Gaza war to end

This comes as the incumbent president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has faced pressure from people in his own party as well as Americans who have criticised the Biden administration’s support for Israel in the ongoing war amid the mounting death toll and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. 

Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel which sparked the war in Gaza, led to the deaths of at least 1,200 people and around 250 others were taken by the militant group to the Palestinian enclave as hostages, according to the Israeli officials. 

Israel has since launched a military operation into Gaza which has killed more than 36,000 people, mostly civilians, as claimed by the Hamas-run health ministry. 

About the three-phase plan

The first phase will include a ceasefire, partial withdrawal of Israeli forces and release of some hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. 

Biden said that the first phase of Israel’s offer would last six weeks and would also include a “full and complete” ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from “all populated areas” of Gaza. 

This phase would also see the release of a number of hostages including “women, the elderly, the wounded in exchange for release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners,” said the US president. It also includes talks between Israel and Hamas to get to the next phase of the proposal.

Additionally, Palestinian civilians will return to their homes and neighbourhoods in all areas of Gaza. This comes as the Israeli military’s evacuation orders have led to the displacing of 1.7 million people, more than 75 per cent of Gaza’s population. 

As a part of the first phase, humanitarian assistance will increase to 600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza per day. “With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it,” said Biden. 

The second phase will include a “permanent end to hostilities” after negotiations, said Biden and the release of all remaining hostages. However, he noted that this phase could take longer than six weeks due to the differences between the two sides; during this time, the ceasefire will continue. 

“Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected but the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks from phase one, the ceasefire will still continue for as long as negotiations continue,” said the US president. 

The US, Qatar and Egypt will ensure that talks continue until “all agreements are reached” during this period, said Biden. The second phase will also see the release of the rest of the hostages who are alive including male soldiers, while Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza. 

“And as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, a temporary ceasefire will become – in the words of the Israeli proposal – the cessation of hostilities permanently,” said the US president. 

The third and last phase would include a “major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any final remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families,” said Biden. 

Even if the ongoing war in Gaza was to end today, it would take until 2040 to rebuild all the homes that have been destroyed so far, said a report by the United Nations, earlier this month. 

Israel has “devastated Hamas forces over the past eight months,” said Biden, adding that at this point “Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another Oct. 7.”

Arab nations and the international community will also help in Gaza rebuilding efforts, but in a “manner that does not allow Hamas to rearm,” the US president added. Washington will work with its partners to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in the Palestinian enclave. 

Hamas reacts ‘positively’

Hamas, on Friday, said that it “considers positively” the Israeli plan towards a full ceasefire in Gaza. During his speech, the US president urged the militant group to accept the proposal. 

The Palestinian militant group, in a statement, said that it “considers positively” Biden’s speech about “a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, reconstruction and the exchange of prisoners”. 

Amid the war, there have been multiple rounds of talks between Israel and Hamas, but except for a one week-long ceasefire in November to facilitate the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners from Israel, there has been no progress. 

Netanyahu says war will not end

Amid some hope after Biden’s speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to throw cold water on peace talks saying that the war will not end until the “elimination” of Hamas. 

Netanyahu’s office said that he “authorised the negotiating team to present an outline for achieving (the return of hostages), while insisting that the war will not end until all of its goals are achieved…”

The aims include “return of all our hostages and the elimination of Hamas's military and governmental capabilities,” it added.  

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, on Friday, accused Israel of “using negotiations as a cover to continue its aggression” and said that the Palestinian militant group “refuses to be a part of these manoeuvres”. 

Notably, Netanyahu’s government has been facing near-daily protests for multiple reasons including the war in Gaza. After Biden’s speech, families of Israeli hostages also called on all parties to immediately accept the recent proposal. 

“We want to see people coming back from Gaza alive and soon,” Gili Roman, whose sister, Yarden Roman-Gat, was taken hostage and freed during the ceasefire in November, told the Associated Press. 

However, Yarden’s sister-in-law, Carmel, is still being held in the Palestinian enclave. “This might be the last chance to save lives. Therefore, the current state must be changed and we expect all to adhere to Biden’s call for accepting the deal on the table, immediately,” Gili added. 

Situation in Gaza

Hundreds of thousands of Gazans are moving out of Rafah, where up to 1.4 million people displaced due to the war were sheltering after the Israeli military began striking the city which was once said to be a safe zone. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged Friday that the humanitarian situation was “dire” despite Washington’s efforts to increase the amount of aid entering Gaza. 

The World Food Programme (WFP) said daily life had become “apocalyptic” in southern Gaza after Israel began its assault on Rafah in early May. 

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.