Possibly a ‘matter of a few days’ before final announcement on ceasefire proposal
Al Jazeera’s correspondent Hashem Ahelbarra said the reaction from Hamas to the ceasefire proposal announced by Joe Biden was positive and they appear to be signalling that they are ready to “move ahead”.
“Hamas is basically now telling us that they are willing to move ahead with the agreement and that it is just a matter of time before this is finalised,” Ahelbarra said.
“They’ve been for months saying that it’s the Americans who are providing the Israelis with cover. It is the Americans who are responsible for what is happening to the people of Gaza. Today they are saying that they are looking positively at the content of this speech of Joe Biden,” he said.
“And that they are willing to move ahead, bearing in mind that they would like to see their demands met, which is basically what they have been saying over some time: They would like to see a permanent ceasefire, which is in phase two [of the proposal]. They would like to see a complete pullout of Israeli soldiers from Gaza, which is in phase two. And that they would like to see Gaza reconstructed.”
“I have never seen Hamas reacting this way.”
“It could be an indication that we are likely – if the Israelis say ‘let’s go ahead’ – that It’s just going be a matter of a few days before we have a final announcement.”
Yeah, it all depends on Israel's war cabinet actually agreeing to the ceasefire proposal. The one big difference this time is that Biden is openly backing it, even saying Israel has proposed it. Feels like a lie to put pressure on Netanyahu, pretty much the last thing Biden can do before actually pulling support.
German FM welcomes news US-backed ceasefire proposal
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has said that a new ceasefire proposal announced by US President Joe Biden “provides a glimpse of hope and a possible path out of the war’s deadlock”.
“It is now up to Hamas to prove their commitment to ending the conflict,” she wrote on X.
Spin it all you want, the ball is in Netanyahu, Gvir and Smotrich's court. But I guess it helps save face for Netanyahu by pretending Hamas is the one that needs to be convinced. They do need to be convinced it's an honest proposal.
Seizing the opportunity for a humanitarian ceasefire, paving the way for a long-term truce, is more crucial than ever. We have been tirelessly working with other countries for months to achieve this. 2/4
— Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock (@ABaerbock) May 31, 2024
Says the co-defender of Israel at the ICJ. You've been tirelessly working to keep the war going.
Biden proven unreliable and untrustworthy regarding Israel war on Gaza
Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara has called US President Joe Biden one of the “most unreliable and untrustworthy American leaders in decades”, adding that he has never seen a US president “so shamelessly and shamefully supporting the war crimes of a foreign leader”.
Bishara said Biden has demonstrated a lack of leadership in his handling of Israel’s war on Gaza. He suggests that Biden’s approach has faltered, lacking the necessary clarity and resolve demanded by such a complex and sensitive issue.
Scathing but very true.
