GAZA 'TRUCE'
Israel has offered ceasefire deal to Hamas to end Gaza war and return of hostages, Joe Biden says
The proposed plan will also see devastated civilian areas attacked across Gaza be reconstructed
ISRAEL has given Hamas another chance to accept a ceasefire deal that could see the horrific war in Gaza finally end, says US President Joe Biden.
Biden laid out Israel's three-phase proposal detailing how the near eight-month war may soon reach its long awaited conclusion with all of the remaining hostages finally being freed.
8
8
8
8
In the surprise speech at The White House on Friday, Biden announced "it's time for this war to end", as he urged Hamas' leaders to accept the latest Israeli offer at peace.
The once chilling threat of Hamas is slowly evaporating after repeated Israeli attacks in recent months with the terror group said to be no longer capable of carrying out a large-scale attack on Israel.
Biden said: "Everyone who wants peace now must raise their voices and work to make it real. It's time for this war to end.
"Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it."
read more in Gaza war
A spokesperson for Hamas has claimed they are "studying the proposal" but say they view the deal "positively".
A statement by the group read: "The necessity of putting an end to the war on Gaza is the result of the legendary steadfastness of our struggling people and their valiant resistance."
The Israeli government is united in the desire to return our abductees as soon as possible and is working to achieve this goal
Benjamin Netanyahu's office
Rather unsurprisingly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is believed to not fully "agree with" the proposal.
His office released a statement saying: "The Israeli government is united in the desire to return our abductees as soon as possible and is working to achieve this goal."
Most read in The Sun
But went on to say "the war will not end until all of its goals are achieved".
Netanyahu has previously promised to fight until every single militant is dead.
The statement added they won't stop fighting until "the elimination of Hamas' military and governmental capabilities".
‘Incredibly disturbing step’ - Biden blasted by ex-Netanyahu spokesman for halting arms to Israel
According to Biden, the first phase of the much-needed ceasefire deal will last for six weeks.
It will run in a similar fashion to the first agreement in November 2023, that saw a number of hostages be released.
A full and complete ceasefire would see the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza like the besieged city of Rafah.
In return for the withdrawal, Hamas would be expected to hand over all the remaining female, child and injured hostages.
The remains of those killed would also be returned home to their loved ones.
Israel says there are still around 100 hostages trapped in Gaza, alongside the bodies of a 30 more.
Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel will also be involved in the trade, says the president.
Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a ceasefire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it
Joe Biden
The final part of Biden's phase one proposal would allow for up to 600 military aid trucks to be deployed into the battered Gaza strip daily to give civilians much-needed help.
Phase two would see all of the last hostages returned at last - signalling the war is coming to an end.
Israeli forces would then withdraw from Gaza completely allowing for Hamas militants to sneak away from the battlefield.
Biden says if Hamas agree to all the terms and actually abide to the ceasefire ruling then the fighting will likely end at this point.
The third phase from Israel has called for a moment of rebuilding in the devastated areas of Gaza so people can return home.
Let’s seize this moment and bring this conflict to an end
Lord David Cameron
The major reconstruction of Gaza is expected to take decades.
Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said Hamas must accept the new deal.
He posted a message on X saying: "Hamas must accept this deal so we can see a stop in the fighting, the hostages released and returned to their families and a flood of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
"As we’ve long argued a stop in the fighting can be turned into a permanent peace if we are all prepared to take the right steps.
"Let’s seize this moment and bring this conflict to an end."
As former US President Barack Obama called the plan "clear and realistic".
The latest on the war in Gaza
A ceasefire deal between the two sides has been talked about for some time now with Hamas reportedly refusing to accept Israel's terms in the past.
Hamas reportedly told mediators on Thursday they wouldn't take part in any future negotiations if Israel continues to storm Gaza.
The militant group did say they are prepared for a "complete agreement", including freeing hostages, however.
At the start of May, ceasefire talks broke down after Israel felt disrespected when Hamas announced an agreement had been made when it hadn't been.
This prompted Netanyahu to launch a terrifying planned assault on the city of Rafah in an attempt to end the war by force.
The IDF is looking to seek and destroy any last remnants of Hamas so the war can be over.
Israel says the city is Hamas' last major stronghold in the Gaza Strip.
They have been "eliminating terrorists" and "terrorist infrastructure" with hundreds of "terror targets" already being hit.
Repeated airstrikes have also been ongoing since the start of May with three “significant” tunnel shafts also being found.
Military tanks encircled the entire eastern half of the refugee-filled city as the planned assault started.
Israel was told to immediately cease its operation in Rafah by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
They said the humanitarian crisis in Rafah had “deteriorated further”, with the situation now “disastrous”.
Earlier this week, Israel blitzed a refugee camp in Rafah - killing at least 45 Palestinian civilians including small children.
The Hamas-run health ministry says 60 more people were injured.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to widespread condemnation of the strike today by calling it "a tragic mistake".
It came after Hamas launched a chilling barrage of rocket attacks on Israel for the first time in months, forcing civilians to flee their homes.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Rocket sirens were loudly blasted across Tel Aviv after eight missiles were said to have been launched from Gaza with pictures showing Israel's famous Iron Dome intercepting several of them in mid-air.
Hamas announced they were aiming for Israel's largest city, saying: "We fired a large salvo at Tel Aviv in response to the Zionist massacres of civilians."
TIMELINE OF WAR SO FAR
Oct 7, 2023: Hamas gunmen launch horror attack killing thousands of innocent civilians and taking hostages
Oct 7, 2023: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is at war and prepares revenge airstrikes on Gaza
Oct 19, 2023: Yemen's Houthi terror groups start attacking cargo ships in the Red Sea linked to Israel including US and UK vessels
Oct 21, 2023: Aid trucks are sent through the Rafah border into Gaza
Oct 27, 2023: Israel launches ground offensive in Gaza
Nov 1, 2023: People try to evacuate Gaza completely as war ramps up but many forced to stay
Nov 15, 2023: Israeli troops enter Gaza's biggest hospital, Al Shifa, after a siege of several days as they believe Hamas are working inside
Nov 21, 2023: Israel and Hamas announce a ceasefire to last seven days and see the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners
Nov 2023: Truce ends with only half of hostages returned
Dec 1, 2023: Fighting starts up again with first round of airstrikes in weeks
Dec 4, 2023: Israeli forces launch huge ground assault in southern Gaza, towards the main southern city of Khan Younis
Dec 12, 2023: Countries call on Israel to find a new ceasefire deal to stop civilian casualties
Jan 11, 2024: US and British warplanes, ships and submarines launch retaliatory strikes across Yemen
Feb 29, 2024: More than 100 Gazans die as they queued for humanitarian aid with Israel and Hamas having different views on what happened
April 1, 2024: Israeli air strikes kill seven aid workers for the World Central Kitchen charity
April 1, 2024: Iran's embassy hit in Damascus by a suspected Israeli airstrike killing several military officers and a top general
April 13, 2024: Tehran responds to the embassy strike by firing hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel but most are intercepted
April 19, 2024: Israel hits back at Iran with precision strike near a nuclear site in Isfahan
April 23, 2024: Israel gear up for six-week assault on Rafah
April 24, 2024: Hostage claims 70 people held captive have died after being bombed
April 29, 2024: Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu could be issued with an international arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza
May 4, 2024: Hamas claim ceasefire deal has been agreed before Israel labels the move a "ruse" and shuts down any negotiations
May 10, 2024: Hundreds of thousands of Rafah civilians told to flee city as Israel prepares planned assault to eliminate all of Hamas
May 17, 2024: Several bodies of slaughtered Israeli civilians are discovered in Gaza and returned home to their loved ones
May 19, 2024: Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas terror chief Yahya Sinwar face arrests on war crime charges
May 22, 2024: Parents of Israeli hostages release video of Hamas thugs threatening to rape female soldiers they've captured and left bloodied
May 26, 2024: Hamas launch eight missiles at Israel for the first time in months forcing civilians to flee their homes
May 27, 2024: At least 45 Palestinian civilians including small children were killed as Israel blitzed a refugee camp in Rafah
8
8
8
8
Topics