In a press conference at the White House, US President Joe Biden revealed that Israel has agreed to a proposal that would result in a "lasting" ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. This announcement comes as Biden faces increasing pressure and criticism for his support of the Israeli war effort.

Describing it as a "comprehensive new proposal," Biden explained that the plan includes three phases. The first phase would span six weeks and involve a full ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, the release of captives held in Gaza (including women and the elderly) in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Biden mentioned that Qatar had transmitted the proposal to Hamas, the governing body in Gaza, but there was no immediate comment from Hamas regarding Biden's remarks.

According to Israeli media outlet Haaretz, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office authorized the country's negotiating team to present a plan to achieve the war's objectives. The statement emphasized that the war will not end until all goals are achieved, including the return of hostages and neutralizing Hamas' military and governance capabilities.

Efforts to reach a ceasefire have faced obstacles due to the Israeli military's incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, resulting in the displacement of approximately one million Palestinians and numerous deaths. The ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 36,000 Palestinians since the war began in early October.

The proposal put forth by Israel, which includes a phased transition, has garnered support from Biden, who acknowledged that there may be disagreement among some Israelis, including members of Netanyahu's coalition government. He urged Israeli leaders to stand behind the deal despite these differing views, emphasizing the need to prioritize the release of hostages.

If negotiations extend beyond the initial six-week period, Biden assured that the ceasefire will continue as long as talks progress. The United States, along with Qatar and Egypt, will work together to facilitate and maintain these discussions.

The third phase of the proposal focuses on a reconstruction plan for Gaza, which would begin once the ceasefire is established. Additionally, any remains of captives killed during the conflict would be returned to their families.

Biden's declaration regarding the acceptance of the proposal by Israel is seen as significant, as he is the president of the United States, a key ally of Israel. This clear endorsement may make it challenging for Hamas to resist the pressure to accept the deal.

It should be noted that a similar ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar on May 6 had been accepted by Hamas but rejected by Israeli leaders.

As the potential for a long-lasting ceasefire looms, the focus now shifts to the negotiation process between the involved parties and the hope for peace in the embattled Gaza Strip.