The US expects Israel to agree to the cease-fire plan if Hamas agrees

2024-06-03 20:16:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Palestinian journalists and health officials announced Monday that 11 people were killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes. The developments come as the United States urged the parties to agree to a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages still being held by the Hamas militant group.

The Israeli army announced today that its forces had carried out airstrikes against more than 50 targets in the Gaza Strip. Its officials said that the ground troops carried out operations in the central part of Gaza and in the south of the region, in Rafah.

The Israel Defense Forces also announced that a forensic investigation had identified the body of Dolev Yehoud, an Israeli citizen suspected of being taken hostage by Hamas militants. Remains of his body were found in the southern city of Kibbutz Nir Oz.

On Sunday evening, the State Department announced that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the peace proposal with Israeli officials. He said the plan would "support Israel's long-term security interests."

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Mr. Blinken held separate phone conversations with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and War Cabinet Secretary Benny Gantz. He had told Israeli officials that the ceasefire proposal would "ensure the release of all hostages as well as increase humanitarian aid throughout Gaza".

" The secretary emphasized that Hamas must accept the agreement without delay. He reiterated that in addition to reuniting the hostages with their relatives, the proposal supports Israel's long-term security interests, including establishing calm along the country's border with Lebanon, allowing Israelis to return to their homes ," Mr. Miller said. in a statement referring to the telephone conversation between Mr. Blinken and Mr. Gantz The same was said in a statement regarding the telephone conversation between Mr. Gallant and Mr. Blinken.

Earlier on Sunday, White House Homeland Security spokesman John Kirby said that if Hamas agrees to the proposed cease-fire, the United States expects Israel to accept it as well.

Mr Gallant said on Sunday that Israel would not allow Hamas to continue to rule in Gaza at any stage of the peace process and that it was "considering some alternatives" regarding the Islamist group.

" We will isolate areas in Gaza, remove Hamas operatives from them and deploy forces that will enable the formation of an alternative government - one that would threaten (power) Hamas ," Mr. Gallant said.

But he did not elaborate on possible alternatives.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that "Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed." He cited the destruction of Hamas' military and governance capabilities, the release of all hostages, and the provision of conditions he said would The Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to Israel.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is facing divisions within the right-wing ruling coalition, as well as intense internal pressure from opposing parties, over what has been called Israel's plan for Gaza and Hamas.

Two right-wing members of his cabinet, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, threatened on Saturday to topple Mr Netanyahu's government if he accepted Mr Biden's proposal.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid urged Mr. Netanyahu to accept the deal and offered to support the prime minister if Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich leave the government.

The families of the hostages also pressured Israel and Hamas to agree on the proposed deal. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered again on Saturday in Tel Aviv demanding the return of the hostages.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Sunday that he had told Mr Netanyahu that he would "give him and his government full support for an agreement to secure the release of the hostages".

" It is our obligation to return the hostages home within the framework of an agreement that protects the security interests of the state of Israel ," Mr. Herzog said in a speech at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian militant group Hamas said it "sees in a positive light" what Mr. Biden described on Friday as the Israeli plan.

However, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi said on Saturday during a televised interview in Qatar that no deal would be reached before meeting their demand "to withdraw the occupying army and reach a ceasefire", as he put it. Mahmoud Mardawi called for the end of the war and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza./ VOA