As smoke rose over Gaza's skyline. Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday, there would not be
a permanent ceasefire there until Hamas is destroyed. His
office called the idea quote a non starter. It's
time to begin this new stage. The day before
us, President Joe Biden said Israel proposed a deal
involving an initial six week cease fire. It would
include a partial Israeli military withdrawal and the release of
some hostages while negotiating a permanent end to hostilities.
It's time for this war to end for the day
after to begin. Netanyahu's comments have raised questions over
the details of the plan and its timing. Hamas
has cautiously welcomed talks on a deal. Biden had
signaled that Hamas would not stay in power in Gaza
without elaborating but the Iranian backed Islamist group has not
indicated it might step aside or disarm voluntarily in Tel
Aviv. Protesters rallied calling for the release of Israeli
hostages in the Palestinian enclave and opposition leader Yair Lapid
said his party would support the agreement that means it
would likely pass in parliament though Israeli National Security Minister
Itamar Ben Gvir threatened on Saturday to bring down the
coalition government if Netanyahu enters a Gaza deal that would
entail ending the war without the elimination of Hamas Us
. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke phone with top
officials from the United Arab Emirates Qatar and Egypt regarding
the proposal. A state Department spokesperson said on Saturday
ceasefire talks have stumbled for months over a clash in
core positions. The war began on October 7 when
Hamas led Palestinian fighters rampaged into southern Israel from Gaza
killing more than 1200 people, mostly civilians and seizing
more than 250 as hostages. According to Israeli tallies
, Israel's ground and air campaign in Gaza has left
the territory in ruins, led to widespread starvation and
killed more than 36,000 people according to Palestinian health authorities --> .