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President Joe Biden released a three-phase plan towards a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)
An aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel has accepted the framework for President Joe Biden's plan to end the conflict in Gaza, though he described it as "not a good deal."
President Biden announced on Friday that Israel had put forward a three-part plan that would lead to a complete cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held there for the past eight months. Biden emphasized, "It's time for this war to end." The deal is not yet finalized, and while Biden referred to it as an Israeli proposal, Israel's official stance remains uncertain.
On ABC News' "This Week," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated that the proposal was Israeli, developed after intense diplomacy with the U.S. national security team and the State Department.
However, Netanyahu appeared to challenge the plan, issuing a statement on Saturday that labeled a permanent cease-fire in Gaza as a "nonstarter" until Israel's conditions for ending the war are met, which include the destruction of Hamas's military and governing capabilities and the release of all hostages.
In an interview with Britain’s Sunday Times, Ophir Falk, chief foreign policy adviser to Netanyahu, emphasized that Israel had agreed to the deal despite it not being favorable, stating that Israel's conditions "have not changed."
Biden's plan proposes ending the war not with the complete destruction of Hamas, as Israel seeks, but by ensuring that Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out large-scale attacks.
Far-right factions within Netanyahu’s Cabinet reacted strongly against Biden's proposal. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir expressed strong opposition, with Ben Gvir threatening to dissolve the government if Netanyahu accepted the plan.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the far-right factions' stance and offered support to Netanyahu should he accept the deal, emphasizing the urgency of the situation for hostages and residents.
International pressure has been mounting behind the U.S. as Spain, France, Germany, and Belgium back the deal. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been in talks with Arab leaders to affirm their commitment to a cease-fire.
The plan’s first phase involves six weeks of a complete cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas, and the release of women and children held hostage. The second phase includes the release of all living hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, followed by major reconstruction efforts in Gaza and the return of deceased hostages’ remains in the final phase.
Biden's speech and the proposed plan have been seen as efforts to pressure Israel to shift tactics and find a resolution to the ongoing conflict. Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to urge the government to accept a cease-fire.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, advocating for the release of hostages taken during the Hamas attack on October 7, supports Biden's plan, calling it the "Netanyahu Deal," and has urged government ministers to ensure its immediate implementation.
