President Biden said the Palestinian militant group Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out a large-scale attack against Israel, and urged both sides to come together and accept a cease-fire proposal that would end the fighting in Gaza.
The White House has been desperately trying to restrain a mounting Israeli attack on the besieged Gaza city of Rafah, warning of a humanitarian catastrophe. The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press the campaign to destroy Hamas as a fighting force to avenge the group’s terrorist assault on southern Israel on October 7.
Speaking at the White House, Mr. Biden said Friday that Qatar has presented Hamas with the proposal that would result in a “full and complete cease-fire” implemented through three phases.
“Everyone who wants peace now must raise their voices and work to make it real. It’s time for this war to end,” Mr. Biden said.
The president argued that Israel has achieved its goal in the attack because Hamas is “no longer capable” of carrying out another attack on the scale of the October 7 assault.
Mr. Biden’s plea for peace came hours after the Israeli military confirmed that its forces are now operating in the central parts of Rafah as it expanded its offensive in the southern Gaza City, where more than a million Palestinian civilians have taken refuge.
The first six-week phase of the proposal would include a full cease-fire across Gaza and an Israeli troop withdrawal from all population centers. Israel and Hamas would exchange some hostages, including U.S. citizens still believed to be held by the militants, Mr. Biden said.
In addition, Palestinian civilians would be allowed to return to “all areas of Gaza,” and 600 aid trucks would enter the region each day. Mr. Biden said the first phase would continue as long as Israel and Hamas keep negotiating.
The second phase would initiate talks on a “permanent end to hostilities” in Gaza, and the third stage would begin the reconstruction of Gaza.”
Mr. Biden said that the deal would be backed by Egypt, Qatar and the U.S.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.