United States President Biden said yesterday that Hamas was no longer capable of carrying out a major terrorist attack on Israel and declared that it was time for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. He said Israel had put forward a new cease-fire proposal that he strongly urged should be accepted by both sides.
“At this point, Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another Oct. 7,” Mr. Biden said from the White House. “It’s time for this war to end, for the day after to begin.”
Speaking from the State Dining Room, Mr. Biden essentially endorsed an Israeli proposal that had been transmitted to Hamas by Qatari negotiators. Mr. Biden said the proposal would be broken into three phases, starting with a six-week cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza and the exchange of elderly and women hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees.
“This is truly a decisive moment,” Mr. Biden said. “Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it.”
