Gaza war

Israel has proposed a six-week ceasefire

Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip(Bild: AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israel's representative has proposed a new "comprehensive" agreement in the indirect negotiations with Hamas. This was announced by US President Joe Biden on Friday evening. Among other things, it is to include a six-week withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and a ceasefire for this period.

According to Biden, the offer provides for "the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of the Gaza Strip and the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded". In addition, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are to be released from Israeli prisons. Refugees are also to be allowed to return during the six weeks.

Hamas toughens its stance
In return, the hostages still alive are to be freed from the clutches of Hamas. The US President called on the Palestinian organization to approve the agreement. "It is a roadmap for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages." If Hamas really wanted a ceasefire, it could prove this with its agreement.

Israeli soldiers(Bild: AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

The organization had recently tightened its stance and declared that it would not be prepared to negotiate as long as Israel's military did not stop fighting in the Gaza Strip. The talks, mediated by representatives from the USA, Egypt and Qatar, were then suspended and only recently resumed.

No more massacres possible?
Addressing Israel, Biden said that the country need not fear for its own security. The enemy is no longer in a position to carry out a massacre like the one on October 7. "I know that there are some in Israel who disagree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely," the US President said (see video above). Some in the governing coalition would want to occupy the Gaza Strip. The hostages would not be a priority for them.

I know there are some in Israel who disagree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely.

US-Präsident Joe Biden

Audio recording of hostage
On Friday, the terrorist organization released an audio recording in which an Israeli hostage can be heard. The woman had already been in captivity for 237 days, it said. According to Hamas, she is 26 years old and was abducted on October 7 during the terrorist attack on Israel in the Gaza Strip.

Israel: psychological terror against relatives
It was initially unclear under what circumstances and when the recording was made. Israeli media reported that the hostage's family had asked that the recording not be made public. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad have already published videos of the kidnapped people on several occasions.

Israel's government describes this as psychological terror against the relatives. They have been demanding another deal with Hamas for months in order to secure the release of the hostages. According to Israeli sources, 84 hostages could still be alive. The war has been going on for more than seven months.