Joe Biden says Hamas ‘no longer capable’ of another major attack against Israel
The US President urged Israel and Hamas to come to a deal.
US President Joe Biden on Friday detailed a three-phase deal proposed by Israel to Hamas militants that he says would lead to the release of remaining hostages in Gaza and could end the grinding, nearly eight-month-old war.
Mr Biden said Hamas is “no longer capable” of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel, as he urged Israelis and Hamas to come to a deal to release remaining hostages for an extended ceasefire.
Speaking from the White House, he called the proposal “a road map to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages”.
Mr Biden said the first phase of the proposed deal would last for six weeks and would include a “full and complete ceasefire”, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
American hostages would be released at this stage, and the remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families.
Humanitarian assistance would surge during the first phase, with 600 trucks being allowed into Gaza each day.
