Far-right Israeli minister vows to stand against ‘dangerous’ truce plan
Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich hit out at the ceasefire proposal presented by US President Joe Biden that envisions leading to a permanent end of the war on Gaza.
Smotrich said taking the deal would “humiliate” Israel and amount to a “surrender” to Hamas’s Gaza chief, Yahya Sinwar.
“If, God forbid, the government decides to adopt this offer of surrender, we will not be part of it and will work to replace the failed leadership with a new one,” he said, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
“I told the prime minister, ‘We, together with the bereaved families and the majority of the people of Israel, will stand by your side for a decision and victory. But we will stand against you with all strength and aggression if you choose surrender and defeat’.”
Truce proposal ‘accurately reflects’ plan made with Israel: US
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby says he’s unaware of any “gaps” in the ceasefire deal proposed by US President Biden, despite Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly saying the opposite.
“As for the gaps, I don’t know what gaps you’re referring to,” Kirby said during a briefing with reporters.
The Biden administration is “confident” the outlined proposal “accurately reflects” a proposal worked on with Israel and “the ball” is now in Hamas’s court to make a decision, he said.
Good, Kirby is getting frustrated with Netanyahu. It's been the same since the start of the war, in all the negotiations, glad you finally notice it Kirby.
Hamas the ‘only thing’ standing in the way of ceasefire
US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller says the Palestinian group should accept the truce deal presented by President Joe Biden, adding the plan is “nearly identical” to a proposal it accepted weeks ago.
“The world should know, the Palestinian people should know that the only thing standing in the way of an immediate ceasefire today is Hamas,” Miller told reporters.
On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said the US proposal would “enable Israel to continue the war until all its objectives are achieved, including the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities”, suggesting the plan would not lead to a lasting ceasefire.
Moreover, Israel rejected the Hamas-approved proposal that Miller referenced.
Miller is delusional, Netanyahu is standing in the way of a ceasefire.
Miller and Kirby are not the only ones lying
‘Absolutely unanimous’: Israel is blocking aid to Gaza – US official
After serving 20 years with the US Department of State, Stacy Gilbert resigned last week after working on a report she says falsely stated Israel is not “restricting or prohibiting” crucial aid to the people of Gaza.
The report stated Israel “is not blocking humanitarian assistance and I and others know that’s not true”, Gilbert told Al Jazeera.
“I can’t recall in my many years working in the US government seeing anything so obviously wrong, and yet that is what we submitted as a report to Congress. The conclusion of the subject matter experts who work in humanitarian assistance … is absolutely unanimous that Israel is blocking humanitarian assistance, which is why there’s famine,” she said.
In response to the allegations, State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said: “We are not an administration or a department that twists the facts, and allegations that we have are unfounded.”
‘An enduring end’: G7 endorses Gaza ceasefire deal
The Group of Seven (G7) bloc of nations says it stands behind a Gaza peace deal endorsed by US President Joe Biden and called on Hamas to accept it.
The G7 countries are the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
“We … fully endorse” the truce plan “that would lead to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, a significant and sustained increase in humanitarian assistance for distribution throughout Gaza, and an enduring end to the crisis with Israel’s security interests and Gazan civilian safety assured,” a statement said.
“We call on Hamas to accept this deal, that Israel is ready to move forward with, and we urge countries with influence over Hamas to help ensure that it does so.”
Hamas said it views the proposal “positively”. Israeli officials say the war must continue until Hamas is “destroyed”.
Israel doesn't seem ready to move forward with Biden's deal.... G7 is nothing but a glorified mafia.
