Israeli media sources report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated the possibility of implementing the initial stage of President Biden’s Gaza ceasefire proposal, on Monday June 3rd, 2024.
This first phase involves the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, potentially preceding the finalization of subsequent conditions.
His remarks emerged from a closed-door parliamentary session, where Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to endorse the proposal and facilitate the hostages’ release. Despite this, members of far-right factions within his coalition have issued ultimatums, threatening to withdraw their support should a decision to cease hostilities be made.
On Friday, Biden unveiled a three-stage ceasefire deal that would end the war in Gaza, return all Israeli captives in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and plan for Gaza’s reconstruction. Biden framed the deal as an “Israeli” proposal, but it has drawn mixed responses from members of the Israeli government.
Netanyahu immediately seemed to undermine the deal. On Saturday, his office said Israel’s main demands have not changed, and that there would be no permanent ceasefire – which the deal stipulates is to be negotiated in the second stage – until Hamas is destroyed.
His coalition reacted more aggressively, threatening to collapse the government if the deal was accepted.
On the flip side, Israeli opposition figures and families of Israeli hostages called on Netanyahu to accept the deal.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid has offered to prop up Netanyahu’s government if the right-wing parties leave to save the deal.
Today, War Minister Gallant reiterated to the US Israel’s commitment to dismantling Hamas in the framework of any deal, according to his office.
Hamas, for its part, says it is ready to engage “positively and constructively” to the proposal, but needs to see something written.
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