Peace talks' outcome lies on the negotiating table and the world has high hopes for a war's end.
Now, a response is awaited from the terrorist-stamped Hamas – which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he remains resolute to destroy.
The Israeli proposal for a ceasefire presented on Friday consists of three phases. Briefly, the first phase is a six-week ceasefire, the second is the release of all hostages, and the third is an extensive reconstruction plan for Gaza.
In a first statement on Friday evening, the terrorist-stamped extreme Islamist movement Hamas said it viewed the proposal positively, on the condition that Israel ceases its "aggressions".
The question is how enthusiastic Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is about the proposal. On Saturday, he said he remains resolute to destroy Hamas before a war's end can become relevant.
"Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed: the destruction of Hamas' military and political capacity, the release of all hostages, and ensuring Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel," he stated and continued:
"The idea that Israel would agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are met is absurd."
Two right-wing Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, said they would leave the government if the proposal is accepted, according to Haaretz. Ben-Gvir also said it would be "the ultimate defeat" to agree to such a proposal.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, on the other hand, urges Netanyahu to support the proposal.
"Israel's government cannot ignore President Biden's important speech. There is an agreement on the table and it must be accepted," he wrote on X.
Mediating countries Egypt, Qatar, and the US jointly urge both Israel and Hamas to finalize the agreement.
According to an American government source, the draft is "nearly identical" to a proposal the terrorist-stamped extreme Islamist movement presented three weeks ago, according to news site Axios.
The announcement of the Israeli ceasefire proposal came from US President Joe Biden on Friday evening.
The Israeli proposal for a ceasefire consists of three phases. The first phase lasts six weeks and involves a complete ceasefire, Israeli forces withdrawing from "all populated areas in Gaza" and a prisoner exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Before phase two begins, the parties must agree on "necessary arrangements". This phase would involve a permanent end to hostilities, the release of all remaining hostages, and all Israeli forces leaving Gaza.
In the third phase, the remains of the hostages who are no longer alive will be returned and an extensive reconstruction plan will begin.
