On Saturday, Israel’s prime minister rejected a permanent cease-fire in Gaza until specific conditions to end the conflict are met, countering a proposal announced by U.S. President Joe Biden.
The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office came a day after Biden revealed the plan, amid calls from the families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas for immediate acceptance of the proposal.
“Israel’s conditions for ending the war remain unchanged: dismantling Hamas’ military and governing structures, freeing all hostages, and ensuring Gaza no longer threatens Israel,” the statement said. “Israel will insist these conditions are met before any permanent cease-fire.”
Biden had said on Friday that Hamas was now unable to launch a large-scale attack like the one in October that ignited the war. He urged both sides to agree on releasing about 100 remaining hostages and the bodies of around 30 others for an extended cease-fire.
Cease-fire talks broke down last month after U.S. and other mediators attempted to secure a deal to prevent a full-scale Israeli invasion of Gaza’s southern city of Rafah. Israel claims the Rafah operation is essential to eliminate Hamas fighters involved in the Oct. 7 attack.
On Friday, Israel confirmed its troops were in central Rafah, causing about 1 million Palestinians to flee and disrupting humanitarian efforts. The World Food Program described conditions as “horrific and apocalyptic” due to growing hunger.
Hostages’ families said time was critical. Gili Roman, whose sister was freed during a November cease-fire, said, “This might be the last chance to save lives,” emphasizing that all eyes should be on Hamas.
Families had a tense meeting with Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, who stated there was no current plan to bring all hostages home, and the war could last another seven months to destroy Hamas and Islamic Jihad’s capabilities.
Netanyahu has pledged “total victory” to remove Hamas from power, dismantle its military, and return the hostages. His government reiterated that their conditions for ending the war had not changed.
Many hostages’ families accused the government of delaying a deal, costing lives of those in captivity. Sharone Lifschitz, whose mother was freed in November, criticized the government for stalling negotiations.
Biden’s proposal includes a three-phase plan: a six-week cease-fire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. The second phase involves releasing all remaining hostages and further Israeli withdrawal, while the third phase focuses on reconstructing Gaza.
Biden acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining the proposal, stating Israel could resume military actions if Hamas fails to meet its commitments. Hamas responded positively but urged Israel to agree to a permanent cease-fire and other conditions.
In Deir al-Balah, a hopeful Akram Abu Al-Hasan called for continued international pressure on Israel for a cease-fire.
Analysts noted this proposal differs by potentially allowing Israel to renew the war later while reducing Hamas’s governance ability over time. Biden’s speech appeared to directly address the Israeli public, trying to push the Israeli government towards acceptance.
Meanwhile, Egypt, the U.S., and Israel planned talks in Cairo about the Rafah crossing, closed since May. Egypt, concerned about permanent Israeli control, wants Palestinians to manage the crossing again. The White House has been urging Egypt to reopen it.
The Oct. 7 Hamas attack killed around 1,200 people and abducted about 250. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 36,370 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, with no distinction made between civilians and combatants.
