What's in the new Israel ceasefire proposal Biden announced?
WASHINGTON: U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday laid out a three-phase ceasefire proposal from Israel to Palestinian Islamist group Hamas to end the war in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis.
The offer calls for a ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza.
A senior U.S. official said the four-and-a-half page plan had been sent to Hamas for review on Thursday, and that it was «almost identical» to a proposal the militant group had already accepted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday that it backed the plan.
Here are the three phases as described by Biden in a speech and by U.S. officials at a briefing held later.
PHASE ONE: CEASEFIRE, LIMITED HOSTAGE RELEASE AND ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL
Biden said the first phase of Israel's offer would last for six weeks and would include a «full and complete» ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from «all populated areas» of Gaza and the «release of a number of hostages including women, the elderly, the wounded in exchange for release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.»
Biden added that in this phase, Palestinian civilians will return to their homes and neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza, while humanitarian assistance will increase to 600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza every day.
«With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it. Hundreds of thousands of
