US President Joe Biden has revealed the main details of Israel's proposed “roadmap” for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, according to Bloomberg correspondent Josh Wingrove.
According to Biden, the peace plan consists of three stages.
A six-week-long first phase with a "full and complete ceasefire" will include:
- withdrawal of Israeli forces from all "populated areas of Gaza";
- the release of "a number" of hostages, including women, elderly, the wounded (some of them are Americans);
- the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners;
- returning the remains of some hostages who've been killed;
- 600 aid trucks a day;
- start of negotiations on the second phase.
According to the American President, the second phase will include the exchange of all remaining living hostages and the "cessation of hostilities permanently."
At the same time, Biden warned that there are still many details to be discussed.
In the third phase, reconstruction will begin and the remains of the dead hostages will be returned.
"Hamas says they want a ceasefire. This deal is an opportunity for them to prove they really mean it," Biden emphasized.
He calls on Hamas to come to the negotiating table, and on the Israeli government to give its negotiating team "necessary flexibility to close that deal."
The war in the Gaza Strip
Recently, Israel announced its intention to conduct a military operation in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. According to Tel Aviv, there are still Hamas terrorists in the city posing as civilians.
However, the European Union and the United States criticized Israel's intentions and accused the country of violating international law.
In addition, the International Court of Justice demands that the Israeli authorities immediately stop the offensive on the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
Nevertheless, the Israeli Armed Forces continue their operations against Hamas in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, despite a court decision ordering them to stop such activities to protect civilians.
Thus, on May 26, the Israeli Defense Forces struck the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas militants' shelling of Tel Aviv. As a result of the attack, in addition to terrorists, more than forty Palestinian civilians were killed.