An aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated Israel’s acceptance of a peace deal with Hamas.                              

• This decision has come amid an eight-month-long military assault on Gaza.
  • The plan is backed by the European Commission, the UK, Germany, France, Egypt, Qatar and other Arab governments.  

About Biden’s Gaza Peace Plan 

Biden’s proposal consists of three phases peace plan for Gaza

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• Phase One: The first phase lasts six weeks 
  • It includes a comprehensive ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas since October 7.
  • Palestinian prisoners would be exchanged for the Israeli hostages, with a focus on women, the elderly, and the wounded.
  • Humanitarian aid would be provided, with 600 trucks delivering assistance daily to Gaza.
• Phase Two: Negotiations between Israel and Hamas would take place during the six-week period of phase one.
  • Phase two involves the exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers.
  • Israeli forces would fully withdraw from Gaza.
  • A temporary ceasefire would transition into a permanent cessation of hostilities if Hamas fulfills its commitments.
• Phase Three: Phase three focuses on a major reconstruction plan for Gaza.
  • Any remaining hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families.
  • Biden assures Israelis of their security, stating that Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out similar hostage-taking actions.

Factors affecting deal’s success in Israel-Palestine Conflict

• External Pressures:
  • International Condemnation: Global criticism of Israel’s actions, including from the US, creates pressure for a peaceful resolution.
  • US Elections: Biden’s inability to influence Israel might hurt his re-election chances, further pressuring him to broker a deal.
    • In these circumstances, a peace deal and ceasefire are being demanded from many quarters, but its path to fruition is not easy. 
  • Hamas Demands: Hamas’s insistence on Israel’s complete military withdrawal remains a major obstacle, as Israel is unwilling to fully demilitarize Gaza.
• Overall Challenges:
  • Deep-Rooted Conflict: The underlying issues that have fueled the conflict for decades remain unresolved.
    • There are conflicts over military withdrawal. Hamas demands Israel to withdraw its military from Gaza Strip  but Israel is not ready for it and demands “destruction of Hamas” itself.
  • Lack of Trust: Historical distrust between the two sides makes reaching a lasting agreement difficult.

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