Phase three of the ceasefire deal to focus on reconstruction plan for Gaza: Biden

Ahram Online , Wednesday 15 Jan 2025

US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday the third phase of the ceasefire deal will involve any final remains of Israeli captives who have been killed in Gaza to be returned to their families.

US President Joe Biden takes a reporter's question as Vice President Kamala Harris looks on afte
US President Joe Biden takes a reporter's question as Vice President Kamala Harris looks on after delivering a statement on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. AFP

 

He said a major reconstruction plan for Gaza will begin in Phase Three.

“The road to this deal has not been easy,” Biden said. “This is one of the toughest negotiations I’ve ever experienced.”

He attributed reaching the deal to Israeli pressure on Hamas, backed by the US, the death of Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar, a US-led coalition response to Houthi attacks, the “significant” weakening of Hezbollah, and the election of a new Lebanese president.

Biden said: “All told, these developments in the region, which the United States helped to shape, change the equation."

The US president said he was “deeply satisfied that this day has come” for the sake of the people of Israel and the sake of the innocent people in Gaza.

He said:  “The Palestinian people have gone through hell. Too many innocent people have died. Too many communities have been destroyed. Under this deal, the people of Gaza can finally recover and rebuild. They can look to a future without Hamas and power”.

Biden said that during the next six weeks of the first phase of the ceasefire, Israel will negotiate the necessary arrangements for phase two – “a permanent end to the war."

The US president said there are a “number of details” to negotiate to move from the first and second phases.

If negotiations take longer than six weeks, then the ceasefire will continue as long as the negotiations continue, he said.

Phase two will allow for an exchange for the release of all the remaining living hostages, including male soldiers.

The second phase will also involve all remaining Israeli forces to be withdrawn from Gaza, and for the temporary ceasefire to become permanent, he said.

During the news conference, Biden was asked how much credit he would give to the incoming Donald Trump administration.

He replied: “This is the exact framework of the deal I proposed back in May. Exact.”

He noted that it was US support for Israel that helped them weaken Hamas and create the conditions for the ceasefire deal.

He added that he had told his team to “coordinate closely” with the incoming Trump team “to make sure we’re all speaking with the same voice because that’s what American presidents do.”

As he began to leave the room after the conference, a reporter called out: “Who deserves credit for this Mr President, you or Trump?”

Biden turned around and replied: “Is that a joke?”

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