Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Joe Biden’s calls for a ceasefire in Gaza “impossible” as he faces unrest at home.
The US president gave an unusual speech on Friday, outlining three stages of an Israeli proposal to end fighting in the war-torn strip.
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But Netanyahu’s office said yesterday it did not fully agree with the US leader’s interpretation.
The prime minister responded that any deal on the table would be an “impossible” if Israel’s conditions for ending the war were not met – including the total annihilation of Hamas.
Meanwhile, the Israeli leader is facing turmoil in his government from far-right politicians who have defended a tougher stance on Gaza for almost eight months.
Biden’s unexpected announcement at the White House of the ceasefire proposal provoked reactions from the same ministers, who threatened to overthrow the Netanyahu regime.
Ben-Gvir, minister of national security, lamented last night that his own party would rather “dissolve the government” than accept “a victory for terrorism”.
And Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, said he “would not be part of a government that would agree to the proposed draft.”
Netanyahu’s own citizens also rose up in protest with mass marches in Tel Aviv to lobby for the return of the hostages.
Mass protests in the capital yesterday saw people demanding Netanyahu’s resignation and an immediate ceasefire.
The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are met is a failure
Benajmin Netanyahu’s office
Following Biden’s statement, Netanyahu confirmed that a proposal had been put forward by Israel – but said it would “allow Israel to continue the war until all of its objectives are achieved.”
This, he warned, would include “the destruction of Hamas’ military and government capabilities.”
On Saturday morning, Netanyahu’s office released another statement reinforcing Israel’s plans for war.
It said: “Israel’s conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas’ military and government capabilities, the release of all hostages, and the assurance that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.
“Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist that these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is established.
“The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are met is a failure.”
Sources in the prime minister’s office told Sky they do not “fully recognize or agree” with the agreement reached by Biden last week.
Israel’s top foreign policy adviser, Ophir Falk, told The Times that Biden gave “a political speech for whatever reasons.”
He said: “There are many details to be worked out and this includes that there will be no permanent ceasefire until all our objectives are achieved.”
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Joe Biden’s ceasefire announcement
BY Ellie Doughty, Foreign News Reporter
ON Friday, May 31, US President Joe Biden gave a surprising speech where he laid out a three-phase ceasefire proposal that Israel had apparently presented to Hamas.
The three steps are:
ONE: A “total and complete ceasefire”
Lasting six weeks, Israeli forces would withdraw from all densely populated parts of Gaza.
Hamas would release an undetermined number of Israeli hostages – and those of other nationalities – in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Gazans could return home and humanitarian aid would flood into the Strip – with around 600 trucks a day.
During this phase, Hamas and Israel would negotiate a permanent end to the fighting – with the ceasefire lasting as long as necessary to reach that agreement.
TWO: A “permanent end to hostilities”
This would result in all remaining living Israeli hostages – including soldiers – being released.
Israel would withdraw its entire military presence from the Gaza Strip.
Biden said that a “series of details” would have to be agreed to move from the first to the second phase.
THREE: Major reconstruction of the Gaza Strip
The Palestinian enclave was almost completely destroyed in the nearly eight months of war.
Israeli troops covered most of the area and intense fighting with Hamas terrorists, along with constant airstrikes, turned the land into rubble in most areas.
The final phase of this ceasefire agreement would see the reconstruction of the land – which will likely take decades.
Additionally, any remains of hostages who died in the Strip would be returned to their families.
Biden’s speech reaches an all-time high due to global tension and criticism surrounding the fighting in Gaza.
Israel took control of the Rafah border crossing three weeks ago, marking a new escalation by promising to invade the refugee area to eliminate Hamas.
Ben-Gvir warned in April: “If the prime minister decides to end the war without a full-scale offensive in Rafah to defeat Hamas, he will have no mandate to continue to serve as prime minister.”
Although the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claims to have eliminated terrorist targets during the fighting in Rafah, sheltering Palestinian civilians were also killed.
On May 26, an Israeli airstrike hit Tel al Sultan – an area where Gazans had been told it was safe to shelter and were living in tents.
Netanyahu’s government faced swift and fierce criticism for the deadly coup, which sparked a massive fire at the refugee camp.
Some were burned alive in their tents, while hundreds of others were injured.
Horrifying images of injured people searching through rubble for the remains of their relatives and, later, food, swept the world.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted the next day that it was “a tragic accident” as the EU warned it could impose economic sanctions.
Israeli forces later claimed that Hamas ammunition near the refugee camp was actually responsible for the attack.
Biden’s ceasefire speech came just days later.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said at least 36,379 people have been killed in the Strip so far – including 95 in the past 24 hours.
They also say more than 82,000 were injured.
Israel says more than 1,200 citizens were killed during the Hamas massacre on October 7 and claims nearly 300 soldiers died in the Strip.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
