RAFAH: Israeli forces hammered Rafah in southern Gaza with tanks and artillery Saturday, hours after US President Joe Biden said Israel was offering a new roadmap towards a full ceasefire.
Shortly after Biden’s announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his country would still pursue the war until it had reached all its aims.
He reiterated that position on Saturday, saying that “Israel’s conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel”.
A permanent ceasefire without those conditions being met was “a non-starter”, he said.
Hamas, meanwhile, said it “views positively” the plan laid out by Biden.
Israel offers new ‘roadmap’ to end Gaza war, says Biden
In his first major address outlining a possible end to the conflict, the US president said Israel’s three-stage offer would begin with a six-week phase that would see Israeli forces withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza.
It would also see the “release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly, the wounded, in exchange for (the) release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners”.
Israel and the Palestinians would then negotiate during those six weeks for a lasting ceasefire – but the truce would continue while the talks remained underway, Biden said.
Hamas says it is ready for a ‘complete agreement’ if Israel stops war
The US leader urged Hamas to accept the Israeli offer. “It’s time for this war to end, for the day after to begin,” he said, in comments echoed by British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
Israel insists on war aims
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