Israeli pm casts doubt on Biden’s claim of truce proposal from Tel Aviv
In a move that has cast doubt on the prospects for a negotiated settlement to the bloody conflict in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu categorically rejected a key component of a proposed ceasefire deal that U.S. President Joe Biden claimed had been put forth by Israel itself.
Speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Netanyahu stated in unequivocal terms that there could be no permanent ceasefire agreement with Hamas until the militant group’s military capabilities and governing infrastructure in Gaza were completely destroyed.
“Israel’s conditions for ending the war have not changed: The destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu declared. “The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter.”
The Israeli premier’s hardline stance appears to directly contradict claims made by President Biden on Friday, when he revealed that Israel had proposed a phased deal involving an initial six-week truce, a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of some Palestinian hostages held by Hamas.
According to Biden, this temporary arrangement was intended to create space for broader negotiations aimed at “a permanent end to hostilities” between Israel and Hamas, the de facto governing authority in the besieged Gaza Strip.
However, Netanyahu’s adamant rejection of any permanent ceasefire agreement prior to the complete neutralization of Hamas has cast serious doubts on the viability of the proposed deal outlined by the U.S. president.
The conflicting statements from the Israeli and American leaders have only deepened the sense of confusion and uncertainty surrounding the prospects for a negotiated settlement to the escalating conflict, which has already claimed the lives of over 230 Palestinians, including 65 children, according to figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Hamas, for its part, has consistently demanded a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire agreement, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel as preconditions for any lasting truce.
The militant group has also rejected Israeli demands for its disarmament and the dismantling of its governing apparatus in Gaza, insisting that it has a legitimate right to resist the ongoing Israeli occupation and blockade of the coastal enclave.
As the death toll continues to mount and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, the divergent positions of the various parties involved have left little room for optimism about the prospects for a negotiated resolution to the conflict.
“Netanyahu’s insistence on the complete destruction of Hamas as a precondition for any ceasefire agreement is not only unrealistic but also a recipe for perpetual conflict and human suffering,” said Hanan Ashrawi, a veteran Palestinian politician and former member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
“By rejecting the very notion of a negotiated settlement and doubling down on its military campaign against Gaza, the Israeli government is effectively condemning the Palestinian people to endless cycles of violence and deprivation,” Ashrawi added.
International reactions to Netanyahu’s statement have been swift and condemnatory, with human rights groups and global powers alike expressing concern over the Israeli leader’s uncompromising stance.
“The Israeli Prime Minister’s rejection of a negotiated ceasefire deal is deeply troubling and runs counter to the urgent need for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution to this conflict,” said a spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
“We reiterate our call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilian lives, in line with international humanitarian law.”
The United States, which has historically been a staunch ally of Israel, has also expressed disappointment over Netanyahu’s remarks, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging “all parties to exercise restraint and work towards a negotiated solution.”
As the diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire continue to falter, the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Gaza grow increasingly dim, raising fears of a further escalation in violence and suffering for the embattled Palestinian population.
“The world cannot stand idly by as the Israeli government pursues a policy of collective punishment and the obliteration of Palestinian resistance,” said Mustafa Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian politician and activist.
“If diplomacy fails, the international community must take decisive action to protect Palestinian civilians and hold Israel accountable for its flagrant violations of international law and human rights.”Ceasefire Deal
