Gaza truce plan in doubt as Israel-Hamas battles rage
- On Friday, Biden presented an Israeli plan that would end the conflict, free all hostages and lead to the reconstruction of Gaza without Hamas in power
- Netanyahu’s office stressed Israel would continue its war on Gaza until all ‘goals are achieved’ including the end of Hamas’ military and governing capabilities
Doubts were growing on Monday about a plan for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal outlined by US President Joe Biden as heavy fighting raged for a third day since his White House address.
Biden on Friday presented what he labelled an Israeli three-phase plan that would end the bloody conflict, free all hostages and lead to the reconstruction of the devastated Palestinian territory without Hamas in power.
However, Netanyahu’s office stressed on Saturday that Israel would push on with the war sparked by the October 7 attack by Palestinian militants on southern Israel until all of its “goals are achieved” including the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.
Israeli media have questioned to what extent Biden’s speech and some crucial details were coordinated with Netanyahu’s team, including how long any truce would hold and how many captives would be freed when.
Mediators the United States, Qatar and Egypt later said they called “on both Hamas and Israel to finalise the agreement embodying the principles outlined by President Joe Biden”.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Sunday that “we have every expectation that if Hamas agrees to the proposal … that Israel would say yes”.