European Union Urges Israel And Hamas To Accept Biden's Ceasefire Proposal

UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - The European Union is urging Israel and Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal in Gaza announced by United States President Joe Biden.

"European Union fully supports the comprehensive roadmap delivered by President Biden that will lead to an eternal ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and a wave of humanitarian aid to Gaza," the EU said as reported by Anadolu, Wednesday, June 5.

The EU highlights the very bad humanitarian situation in Gaza, stressing that too many civilian lives have been lost.

Therefore, a sustainable ceasefire is indispensable to ensure the protection of civilians and the release of all hostages unconditionally needs to be done immediately.

"Security and well-being (hostres) are of concern and to increase the flow of humanitarian aid that is urgently needed to Gaza in connection with the increasingly severe humanitarian crisis," the EU said.

The European Union emphasizes that peace and stability in the Middle East is in the interests of the two nations, as well as the region as a whole and global interest.

With this background, the European Union said it was ready to contribute to reviving the political process for lasting and sustainable peace based on a two-state solution. EU also said it would support coordinated international efforts to rebuild Gaza.

The proposal, as stated by Biden last Friday, maps out a three-phase agreement that will peak with a process of several years.

The three phases are aimed at rebuilding the badly damaged coastal enclave as well as the repatriation of all surviving and dead hostages detained in Gaza.

The first phase will begin with a six-week ceasefire, when Israeli hostages detained in Gaza will be released, including women, the elderly, and injured. The release will be in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, who Biden said would amount to hundreds.

Later, Israeli forces will also step down from areas that senior Biden administration officials call "popular density".

The bodies of some of the dead hostages will also be returned and Palestinian civilians will be allowed to return to homes and neighborhoods throughout Gaza.

Delivery of humanitarian aid will also increase sharply to 600 trucks per day, according to Biden.

Negotiators will seek to address unresolved issues during the first six weeks, including the ratio of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages.

The proposal includes a language that allows the ceasefire to be extended before the second stage begins, as long as negotiations continue.

The ratio of prisoner swaps is an important issue because in the second stage all surviving hostages will be released, including all Israeli male military personnel. Israeli forces will also fully withdraw from Gaza.

The last phase includes the implementation of the reconstruction of Gaza, which is estimated to take up to five years, and the return of the remaining hostages detained in Gaza.