Biden Says Israel Agrees to Cease Gaza Fighting During Ramadan, while Hamas Examines Peace Agreement
Image Source: NDTV
Biden stated that Israel has agreed to cease military operations in Gaza for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, while Hamas evaluated a draft proposal for a truce that involves a pause in combat and a prisoner-hostage exchange.
US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday that Israel has agreed to cease military operations in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The announcement comes as Hamas is reviewing a draft peace proposal that involves a pause in hostilities and a prisoner-hostage exchange.
The draft, discussed during truce talks in Paris, suggests a 40-day cessation of military activities alongside an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages at a ratio of 10 to one.
The planned truce intends to facilitate immediate repairs to Gaza’s critical infrastructure, such as hospitals and bakeries, while also allowing 500 relief trucks to enter the war-torn enclave daily.
With Ramadan set to begin on the evening of March 10 and end on April 9, this break in violence could give much-needed reprieve and humanitarian aid to Gazans.
Negotiations for the framework agreement, negotiated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, are still ongoing, with President Biden expressing optimism that a ceasefire may be enforced as soon as next week.
“Ramadan is approaching, and the Israelis have agreed not to engage in any activities during Ramadan to give us time to get all of the hostages out,” Biden said during an appearance on NBC’s ‘Late Night With Seth Meyers.’
Despite the ceasefire attempts, Biden did not call for an end to the war, which erupted when Hamas launched a devastating attack on southern Israel on October 7. The attack killed 1,200 persons, the majority of whom were civilians, and took roughly 250 hostages.
While expressing strong support for Israel, Biden admitted the likelihood of an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza bordering Egypt, where a sizable part of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has sought refuge.
The impending invasion of Rafah has sparked international alarm about the safety of residents stuck in the area. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that a ground operation in Rafah is an important part of Israel’s strategy to dismantle Hamas.
However, Biden stated that Israel had committed to facilitating Rafah evacuations before taking more military action against Hamas.
According to the Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza, the battle has claimed the lives of over 29,700 individuals, the majority of them women and children. The ministry does not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants in its casualty reports.
The conflict has also displaced 80% of Gaza’s inhabitants, destroyed major metropolitan areas, and triggered a humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations warning of impending famine.
A previous arrangement struck in late November saw the release of over 100 hostages in exchange for approximately 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, marking the only accord reached thus far in the war. It is thought that 130 hostages remain in Gaza, with Israel alleging that almost a fifth of them have died. (With inputs from Reuters and AP)
The proposal, reviewed during peace talks in Paris, recommends a 40-day pause of military actions and an exchange of Palestinian captives for Israeli hostages at a ratio of 10 to one.
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