Biden’s Gaza peace push suffers another setback

The political leader of Hamas has insisted that any ceasefire deal would have to include a full withdrawal of Israeli troops

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh has rejected the Gaza ceasefire proposal unveiled last week by US President Joe Biden, demanding a full withdrawal of all Israeli troops from the Palestinian enclave as a condition for halting the fighting.

Haniyeh stated on Wednesday that Hamas would only consider a ceasefire based on a comprehensive end to the aggression, contrary to the phased approach proposed by Biden. He emphasized that Hamas and other resistance factions would deal seriously with any agreement that includes a complete withdrawal and a prisoner swap.

A senior Hamas official confirmed that Haniyeh’s comments represent the group’s response to the Biden-backed ceasefire proposal. The plan, already in jeopardy, faced further complications when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his government’s refusal to compromise on its objectives, including the destruction of Hamas. Two members of Netanyahu’s cabinet threatened to resign, potentially collapsing the ruling coalition if the ceasefire was approved.

The three-part proposal calls for an initial six-week ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza. It includes increased humanitarian aid deliveries and an exchange of Hamas hostages for Palestinians jailed in Israel, eventually leading to a permanent end to the fighting and a reconstruction initiative for Gaza.

President Biden described the situation as a decisive moment, suggesting the deal was an opportunity for Hamas to prove its commitment to a ceasefire. Biden had previously claimed that Israel and Hamas were close to agreeing on a temporary ceasefire, even suggesting a pause in combat operations by the start of Ramadan in March.

US officials told Reuters that Biden announced the latest proposal without notifying Israeli leaders to prevent Netanyahu from backing away.