Biden and European leaders call on Hamas: Accept the ceasefire agreement

2024-06-06 15:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

United States President Joe Biden and sixteen other world leaders on Thursday called on Hamas - the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the US and other powers - to accept a cease-fire agreement and on Israel to accept compromises.

"There is no time to lose. We call on Hamas to close this deal," the White House said in a statement.

The declaration was signed by the heads of the main European powers, Britain, France and Germany, as well as Spain, which recently recognized the Palestinian state.

This statement also brought together the leaders of Brazil and Colombia.

Thursday's statement was also signed by Thailand, which has a large labor force in Israel.

Other countries that signed the declaration were Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Serbia.

The United States has repeatedly said it is up to Hamas to accept the deal, but the statement also called for flexibility from Israel.

"At this crucial moment, we call on the leaders of Israel as well as Hamas to make whatever final compromises are necessary to close this deal and bring relief to the families of the hostages, to those on both sides of this terrible conflict." , including civilians," the statement said.

"It is time for the war to end and this agreement is the necessary starting point."

Days ago, Biden unveiled a three-phase proposal by Israel for ending the conflict in the Gaza Strip, saying that "the time has come for this war to end."

The first phase includes a six-week ceasefire, during which Israeli forces would withdraw from "all inhabited areas" of Gaza, some hostages - elderly and women - would be released in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners; Palestinian civilians would return to their homes in Gaza; and 600 trucks a day would deliver humanitarian aid to the devastated enclave.

In the second phase, Biden said that all live hostages, including soldiers, would be exchanged; Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire would begin.

The third phase envisages a major reconstruction plan for Gaza, as well as the return of the "last remnants" of hostages to their families.

Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 last year, killing over 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages.

After this attack, the war started in the Gaza Strip - controlled by Hamas.

Dozens of hostages taken by this group were released during a ceasefire in November, while several others were found - dead or alive - by Israeli troops./ Rel