Devastation in Gaza as Israel wages war on Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that the conditions for ending the country’s war in Gaza “have not changed,” raising questions over a peace proposal laid out by US President Joe Biden, which he said Israel submitted. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

During a speech Friday, Biden said Hamas had been degraded to a point where it can no longer carry out the type of attack that launched the current eight-month conflict in Gaza. Part of the agreement, he said, would see a truce and hostage exchange while Israel and Hamas negotiate a permanent end to the fighting.

But a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday said Israel’s goals — including “the destruction of Hamas” — would need to be met before a permanent ceasefire can begin.

“Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place. The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter,” the statement said.
Today’s statement largely reiterates comments made less than an hour after Biden detailed the peace proposal on Friday, with Netanyahu insisting the country would not end the war until Hamas is defeated and all hostages had been returned.

It is unclear exactly to what degree Israel supports the plan, as outlined by Biden. An earlier statement from the Prime Minister’s Office insisted the “exact outline” of the proposal allows Israel to “maintain” its goals in the conflict.

President Joe Biden has laid out a three-phase Israeli proposal to end the conflict in Gaza, saying, “It’s time for this war to end.”

Speaking at the White House, Biden said Hamas has been degraded to a point where it can no longer carry out the type of attack that launched the current eight-month conflict.

The three phases: Biden said the first phase would last six weeks and include the “withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza” and “release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly, the wounded in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.”

He said second phase would allow for the “exchange for the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers.”

“And as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire would become, in the words of the Israeli proposals, ‘the cessation of hostilities permanently,’” Biden added.

In the third phase, the president said, a “major reconstruction plan for Gaza would commence and any final remains of hostages who’ve been killed will be returned to their families.”

Hamas and Israel respond: The militant group said it “views positively” what was outlined, and said it would respond “constructively” to any ceasefire and hostage plan.

Soon after Biden detailed the Israeli proposal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the country would not end the war until Hamas is defeated.

The Prime Minister’s Office insisted the proposal allows Israel to “maintain these principles.”

Two rockets were fired at the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shoma on Saturday, according to the Israeli military.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told CNN that one rocket fell in a supermarket in the area and no injuries were reported.

Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said Saturday it had hit Israeli military barracks in the city with “heavy missiles.” The IDF did not initially confirm whether the barracks had been hit.

The IDF said an Israeli aircraft had struck the site from which the rockets were launched. It said it had also struck two Hezbollah militants in the area of Majdal Selm in southern Lebanon.

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