Israel Pushes Back Against Gaza Cease-Fire Outlined by Biden
- It wants a pause and hostages for prisoners but no end to war
- White House says Israel has reached most of its military goals
An Israeli tank takes position on the southern border with the Gaza Strip, on June 2.
Photographer: Menahem Kahanna/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Two days after US President Joe Biden laid out what he called an Israeli proposal to end its war on Hamas, it’s clear that key aspects of the deal have not, in fact, been embraced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
As the war in Gaza approaches its eighth month, the impasse between Israel and Hamas over exchanging hostages for prisoners remains unchanged: Israel will pause fighting but not end it as long as Hamas’s governing and military structures remain intact, while Hamas will free hostages only if it’s guaranteed a permanent cease-fire.