The US State Department said that Secretary Anthony Blinken held separate phone calls yesterday, Friday, with the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Jordan to discuss a proposal for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages.
US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said: ‘Blinken, who made the phone calls on board the plane during his return to Washington from Prague, assured his counterparts that the proposal is in the interest of the Israelis and Palestinians.’
On Friday, US President Joe Biden announced a new proposal to stop the war in Gaza, consisting of 3 stages, which differs from previous proposals, as it stipulates the continuation of the ceasefire with the parties advancing in all three stages.
During the first period, which includes a six-week truce, Israeli forces withdraw from population centers in Gaza and hostages, including the elderly and women, are exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
According to Biden, Palestinian civilians will return t
o the Strip, including to northern Gaza, and 600 trucks will bring humanitarian aid to Gaza daily.
In the second phase, Hamas and Israel will negotiate the terms of a permanent cessation of hostilities.
Biden explained: “The ceasefire will continue as long as negotiations continue, in a new development.”
The third phase will include a master plan for the reconstruction of Gaza.
Today, Saturday, the Hamas movement commented on US President Joe Biden’s proposal regarding a ceasefire in Gaza.
Hamas said in a statement: ‘We look positively at what was included in the US President’s speech regarding the ceasefire in Gaza.’
The Movement added: ‘We are ready to deal positively with any proposal that includes a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, reconstruction, the return of displaced persons, and the exchange of prisoners and hostages.
Source: National Iraqi News Agency