TEL AVIV (AP) — Families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas are urging all parties to immediately accept a proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden to bring an end to the nearly 8-month-long war and bring their relatives home. However, Israel’s government insists that conditions for a cease-fire must still be met.
Biden detailed a three-phase deal proposed by Israel to Hamas on Friday, stating that the militant group is no longer capable of launching another large-scale attack on Israel. He called on both Israelis and Hamas to reach an agreement to release approximately 100 remaining hostages, along with the bodies of around 30 more, in exchange for an extended cease-fire.
Cease-fire negotiations hit a standstill last month after intense efforts by the U.S. and other mediators to secure a deal in order to prevent a full-scale Israeli invasion of Gaza’s southern city of Rafah. Israel maintains that the Rafah operation is essential to rooting out Hamas fighters responsible for the October 7 attack on southern Israel that sparked the war.
Israel confirmed on Friday that its troops were operating in central parts of the city. The ground assault has led to the evacuation of around 1 million Palestinians from the city and has disrupted U.N. humanitarian operations based in the area.
In response to Biden’s address, hostage families emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling on both Israel and Hamas to accept the proposed deal.
“We want to see people coming back from Gaza alive and soon,” expressed Gili Roman. His sister, Yarden Roman-Gat, was previously taken hostage and released during a weeklong ceasefire in November, but Yarden’s sister-in-law, Carmel, is still held captive.
“This might be the last chance to save lives. Therefore, the current situation must change, and we expect all parties to adhere to Biden’s call for accepting the deal on the table immediately. There is no other way towards a better situation for all. Our leadership must not disappoint us. But mostly, all eyes should be on Hamas,” he added.
The proposal followed what hostage families described as a contentious meeting with Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, who indicated that the government was not ready to finalize a deal to bring all hostages home and had no alternative plan in place.
Hanegbi suggested this week that the war could continue for another seven months to dismantle the military and governing capabilities of Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group.
Netanyahu has vowed a “total victory” to remove Hamas from power, dismantle its military structure, and secure the release of the hostages. The government stated on Saturday that its conditions for ending the war remain unchanged, emphasizing that a permanent cease-fire before those conditions are met is not an option.
Many hostage families attribute the government’s reluctance to secure a deal to the deaths of several hostages while in captivity.
“We know that the government of Israel has delayed reaching a deal, resulting in the loss of many lives. Our hearts ache for those who survived in captivity for extended periods. Our focus is on bringing these individuals home safely,” shared Sharone Lipschitz. Her mother, Yocheved, was freed in the November ceasefire, while her father, Oded, remains captive.
The first phase of Biden’s proposed deal would last six weeks and include a full cease-fire, Israeli forces withdrawing from densely populated areas of Gaza, and the release of certain hostages, including women, the elderly, and the injured, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The subsequent phases entail the release of all remaining living hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and commencing significant reconstruction efforts in the region devastated by the war.
Biden acknowledged the challenges ahead to maintain the proposed deal, citing the need to negotiate details from the first phase to the second phase. If negotiations extend beyond six weeks for the first phase, the cease-fire will persist as long as talks continue. Israel reserves the right to defend itself against security threats. Biden underscored that if Hamas fails to honor its commitments, Israel can resume military operations.
In its statement on Friday, Hamas viewed the proposal favorably and urged Israelis to commit to a comprehensive agreement that includes a permanent cease-fire, Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, a prisoner exchange, and other terms.
Analysts note that while the proposal resembles previous ones, the main difference lies in the willingness to halt the war indefinitely. This provides Israel with the flexibility to renew military action gradually to curb Hamas’ governance capabilities over time, according to Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University’s Dayan Center.
Biden’s speech has instilled hope that the war may conclude and the hostages could be reunited with their families, a significant development amid ongoing hostilities.
Gershon Baskin, director for the Middle East at the International Communities Organization, commended Biden’s speech, emphasizing the need for Israeli citizens to pressure the government to accept the proposed deal.
Meanwhile, clashes persist in Gaza, with Israel’s army reporting the elimination of a Hamas fighter responsible for directing attacks in Israel and the West Bank. Earlier in the week, Israeli aircraft eliminated a Hamas fighter leading the technology department of its internal security forces in central Gaza.
Over the past eight months, more than 36,170 Palestinians have perished in Gaza due to Israel’s bombardment and offensives, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Follow AP’s ongoing coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
