An aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Tel Aviv had accepted a proposed framework, facilitated by US President Joe Biden, to de-escalate the ongoing conflict, even as Israel continued its bombardment of the Gaza Strip on Sunday.
With at least 60 Palestinians killed in overnight attacks, the death toll rose to 36,439, as reported by the Gaza health ministry. The statement further indicated that 82,627 individuals had sustained injuries in Gaza since October 2023.
In an interview with the UK’s Sunday Times, Ophir Falk, chief foreign policy adviser to Netanyahu, acknowledged Biden’s proposal as “a deal we agreed to,” emphasizing Israel’s keen interest in the release of prisoners. Falk also noted that while it may not be an ideal agreement, Israel remains steadfast in its conditions, including the release of prisoners and the dismantling of Hamas.
Biden has lauded various ceasefire proposals in recent months, each sharing a similar framework to the one outlined on Friday, all of which ultimately collapsed. The main point of contention remains Israel’s insistence on discussing only temporary ceasefires until Hamas is neutralized, whereas Hamas insists on the release of prisoners only within the framework of a permanent resolution to the conflict.
In a related development, the president of the United Arab Emirates and the emir of Qatar discussed Biden’s Gaza proposal, as reported by the UAE’s state news agency.
Mediators, including the US, Qatar, and Egypt, have called on both Hamas and Israel to finalize an agreement based on the principles outlined by President Joe Biden. While Hamas has tentatively welcomed the initiative, it emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive agreement meeting its demands.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has extended political support to Netanyahu if the government secures a deal. However, other Israeli officials have rejected it, viewing it as a return to the pre-October 7 situation, when Hamas controlled Gaza.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, asserted that Tel Aviv would not tolerate continued Hamas rule in Gaza, stating that alternative governing arrangements were being explored.
Amidst ongoing clashes, Israeli Apache attack helicopters targeted central Rafah, while a jet fired a missile at a house in the western Tal al-Sultan district, and artillery shelling hit the southern Brazil neighborhood. UNRWA reported that all 36 of its shelters in Rafah were now empty, with approximately 1.7 million people seeking shelter in southern Gaza’s Khan Yunis and central areas of the territory.
