Israel confirms presenting new ceasefire plan, Hamas says holds "positive" view

JERUSALEM/GAZA -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized the Israeli negotiation team to present an outline for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement by Netanyahu's office on Friday.

The statement was issued following U.S. President Joe Biden's speech, in which Biden revealed a three-phase Israeli proposal that would lead to an end to the ongoing Gaza conflict and the release of all hostages.

"The Israeli government is united in the will to return our hostages as soon as possible and is working to achieve this goal," the Israeli statement said.

It added that "the prime minister authorized the negotiation team to present an outline for achieving this goal while insisting that the war will not end until all of its goals are achieved, including the return of all our hostages and the elimination of Hamas' military and governmental capabilities."

The statement noted that the outline, including the "conditional transition from phase to phase," allows Israel to "maintain these principles."

According to Biden, the first phase of the Israeli proposal includes a six-week "complete" ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli military forces from populated areas of Gaza, and the release of women, the elderly and the wounded being held hostage in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

At the same time, the Palestinian civilians will return to their homes and neighborhoods in "all areas of Gaza," including in the north, and 600 aid trucks will enter the enclave daily, according to the U.S. president.

During the first phase, the second phase will be discussed, and terms of a permanent end to hostilities will be negotiated. Biden said the six-week ceasefire will last as long as negotiations continue.

In the second phase, all living hostages will be released, and the temporary ceasefire will become permanent, while the third phase will see the return of the bodies of the deceased hostages to their families and the start of a major reconstruction plan in Gaza.

In his remarks on Friday, Biden also noted that the Israeli proposal had been transmitted by Qatar to Hamas.

On Friday night, Hamas, in response, confirmed its readiness to deal positively and in a constructive manner with any proposal for a permanent ceasefire.

The Gaza-ruling Palestinian faction said in a statement that it held a positive view of Biden's speech while stressing that the truce proposal should be based on the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the reconstruction of the strip, and the return of the displaced to their places, along with the fulfillment of a genuine prisoner swap deal if Israel clearly announces commitment to such deal.