Hamas Welcomes Joe Biden's Ceasefire Deal for Gaza

Hamas has welcomed U.S. President Joe Biden's newly announced proposal for a ceasefire in Israel's ongoing war with the Palestinian movement in the Gaza Strip.

The proposal, unveiled by Biden in remarks delivered Friday at the White House, was composed of three phases. The first phase would entail a six-week ceasefire, along with an Israeli withdrawal from populated areas of Gaza, the exchange of surviving Hamas-held hostage for hundreds of Palestinians held prisoner, the return of Palestinian civilians to the war-torn territory and the entrance of up to 600 aid trucks.

If realized, the cessation of hostilities would continue through cond phase, during which Israel and Hamas would negotiate a permanent ceasefire. Finally, a plan for Gaza's reconstruction would be established and the bodies of the dead returned.

"It's time for this war to end and for the day after begin," Biden said.

In a rare sign of tacit approval toward the U.S., which has supported Israel throughout the conflict even amid rifts over humanitarian concerns, Hamas said it "positively views" the proposal put forth by Biden, arguing that the "U.S. position and what was established of conviction on the regional and international stage on the necessity to put an end to the war on Gaza are the result of the legendary steadfastness of our people and their valiant resistance.

"Hamas confirms its readiness to deal positively and in a constructive manner with any proposal that is based on the permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal [of Israeli forces] from the Gaza Strip, the reconstruction [of Gaza], and the return of the displaced to their places," the group said, "along with the fulfillment of a genuine prisoner swap deal if the occupation clearly announces commitment to such deal."

Newsweek has reached out to Hamas for further comment.

In a statement shared with Newsweek, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that "the Israeli government is united in the desire to return our abductees as soon as possible and is working to achieve this goal."

"Therefore, the Prime Minister authorized the negotiating team to present an outline for achieving this goal, while insisting that the war will not end until all of its goals are achieved," the statement added, "including the return of all our abductees and the elimination of Hamas' military and governmental capabilities."

Netanyahu has outlined the return of more than 100 remaining hostages as well as the total defeat of Hamas and the neutralization of any threat emanating from Gaza as the prevailing goals of the ongoing war, which began with a Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

As Egypt and Qatar continue to work toward resuming ceasefire talks that collapsed earlier this month amid the onset of Israel's offensive into the southern city of Rafah, Biden did not specifically call for Hamas' defeat as part of his plan. However, he maintained that the group had been effectively rendered unable to launch a repeat of its unprecedented assault nearly eight months ago.

"At this point," Biden said during his remarks Friday, "Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another October 7, just one of Israel's main objectives in this war, and quite frankly a righteous one."

This is a developing news story. More information will be added as it becomes available.

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