An aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that Israel has accepted a framework deal proposed by US President Joe Biden to end the ongoing Gaza war. However, the aide described the deal as flawed and requiring significant revisions.
Ophir Falk, Netanyahu’s chief foreign policy adviser, told Britain’s Sunday Times that while the proposal is not ideal, Israel’s priority is the release of hostages held by Hamas. “It’s not a good deal but we dearly want the hostages released, all of them,” Falk stated, emphasizing that the specifics of the deal still need to be worked out. He reiterated that Israel’s conditions, including the release of hostages and the elimination of Hamas as a terrorist organization, remain unchanged.
On Sunday, Israel continued its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, despite calls from mediators for both sides to agree to Biden’s proposed truce and hostage release plan. Biden, who initially supported Israel’s actions, has recently criticized the high civilian death toll. On Friday, he outlined a three-phase plan submitted by the Netanyahu government to end the conflict.
The plan’s first phase involves a truce and the return of some hostages held by Hamas. The second phase would see negotiations for an open-ended cessation of hostilities, with the remaining captives being freed. Biden suggested that Hamas would play a role in these arrangements, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, which could conflict with Israel’s aim to eliminate the group.
Biden has presented several ceasefire proposals over the past few months, but all have collapsed. In February, he announced that Israel had agreed to halt fighting by Ramadan, but no truce materialized.
The primary issue has been Israel’s insistence on only temporary pauses in fighting until Hamas is destroyed. Hamas, on the other hand, has indicated it will free hostages only under a permanent end to the war. Biden’s latest proposal aims to create a better future in Gaza without Hamas in power, though details remain to be negotiated.
Falk reinforced Netanyahu’s stance that a permanent ceasefire will not occur until all Israeli objectives are met. Netanyahu faces pressure from his coalition government, with far-right partners threatening to leave if Hamas is not decisively defeated. Meanwhile, centrist partner Benny Gantz supports considering the deal.
Hamas has shown provisional support for Biden’s initiative. “Biden’s speech included positive ideas, but we want this to materialize within the framework of a comprehensive agreement that meets our demands,” senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Jazeera. Hamas seeks an end to the Gaza offensive, withdrawal of Israeli forces, free movement for Palestinians, and reconstruction aid.
Israeli officials have rejected Hamas’s demands as a return to the pre-October 7 status quo when Hamas controlled Gaza. Since the conflict began, over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza medical officials.
