Israel offered new peace deal to Hamas, says Joe Biden

US President Joe Biden said on Friday that Israel had offered Hamas a comprehensive peace plan involving return of Israeli hostages and the reconstruction of civilian areas in Gaza.

“It is time for this war to end and the next day to begin,” Biden said in a televised speech from the White House, according to AFP news agencyadding that “we cannot waste this moment” to seize the opportunity for peace.

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“Everyone who wants peace now must raise their voices and work to make it a reality. It is time for this war to end,” Biden said.

He also urged leaders on both sides not to “waste this moment.”

According to President Biden, the first phase of the proposed peace plan would include a six-week ceasefire, during which the leaders of Israel and Hamas would negotiate to end the conflict. ongoing war that began after the attack on October 7 last year.

If negotiations last more than six weeks, the ceasefire will continue for as long as it takes to reach an agreement, he added.

The second phase of the peace process would involve Hamas releasing the hostages and Israel withdrawing its forces from Gaza.

The final phase would involve a “major reconstruction plan,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Hamas also said it was ready to reach a comprehensive “peace deal”, including a hostage exchange deal, if Israel ended its war against the people of Gaza.

“Hamas and the Palestinian factions will not agree to be part of this policy by continuing (ceasefire) negotiations in light of the aggression, siege, famine and genocide of our people” , we can read in the Hamas press release.

More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive in Gaza, the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry said.

Israel launched its air and ground war after Hamas-led militants attacked communities in southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli counts.