Gaza Conflict: Israel Accepts Biden’s “Flawed” Peace Deal

An aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that Israel has accepted a framework deal proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden for winding down the Gaza conflict, though it is considered flawed and requires further refinement.

In an interview with Britain’s Sunday Times, Ophir Falk, Netanyahu’s chief foreign policy advisor, stated that while the deal is not ideal, Israel agreed to it with the primary goal of securing the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

Falk emphasised that Israel’s key conditions, including the release of hostages and the destruction of Hamas as a terrorist organisation, remain unchanged.

Opposition to the deal.

Ultranationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, said on Saturday night that his far-right party would “dissolve the government” rather than hand “a victory to terrorism”.

Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, said he would “not be part of a government that will agree to the proposed outline”.

President Biden’s proposal, outlined on Friday, consists of a three-phase plan to end the war, which was initially presented by the Netanyahu government.

The first phase involves a truce and the return of some hostages. This would be followed by negotiations for an open-ended cessation of hostilities, during which the remaining captives would be freed.

The framework suggests that Hamas might continue to play a role in mediated arrangements facilitated by Egypt and Qatar, which contrasts with Israel’s objective of resuming efforts to eliminate Hamas.

Despite Biden’s previous endorsements of ceasefire proposals, none have succeeded.

In February, he announced that Israel had agreed to halt fighting by Ramadan, starting March 10th, but no truce was achieved. The main issue remains Israel’s stance on only considering temporary pauses in fighting until Hamas is fully eradicated. Conversely, Hamas insists on a permanent end to the conflict in exchange for releasing hostages.

In his address, Biden asserted that the latest proposal aims to create a “better ‘day after'” in Gaza without Hamas in power, though he acknowledged that many details still need to be negotiated. Falk reiterated that a permanent ceasefire is contingent upon meeting all Israeli objectives.

Netanyahu faces pressure to maintain his coalition government, with far-right partners threatening to withdraw if they perceive any deal as sparing Hamas, while a centrist partner, ex-general Benny Gantz, advocates for considering the deal.

Hamas has provisionally welcomed Biden’s initiative. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Jazeera that while Biden’s speech contained positive elements, they seek a comprehensive agreement that addresses their demands.

Hamas’s conditions include ending the Gaza offensive, withdrawing all invading forces, ensuring free movement for Palestinians, and receiving reconstruction aid.

Israeli officials have dismissed these demands, viewing them as a return to the pre-October 7 status quo. On that date, Hamas fighters crossed into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.

The subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza has resulted in over 36,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza medical officials, while Israel reports 290 troop fatalities.

The situation remains complex and fluid, with ongoing negotiations and differing objectives from both sides creating significant challenges in reaching a lasting resolution.

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