UN chief welcomes possible ceasefire in Gaza

KABUL (Pajhwok): UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the roadmap proposed for a ceasefire in the embattled Gaza Strip.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, US President Joe Biden announced that Israel had forwarded a new proposal to end the war.

“It’s a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire,” Biden said, adding the proposal involved three phases, the first of which would last six weeks.

It will include a full and complete ceasefire, as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, according to Al-Jazeera.

The first phase would also see a number of captives held in the Gaza Strip – including women and the elderly – released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, while humanitarian aid would flow into Gaza.

António Guterres wrote on X: “I welcome President Joe Biden’s initiative and encourage all parties to seize this opportunity for a ceasefire, release of all hostages, guaranteed unhindered humanitarian access & ultimately a durable peace in the Middle East.”

In a statement shared on Telegram late on Friday, Hamas said it welcomed Biden’s remarks and his call for “a permanent ceasefire, withdrawal of [Israeli] occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction and a prisoner exchange“.

The group also said it was ready to respond “positively and constructively” to any proposal that includes those measures – as well as the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes in Gaza – if Israel “explicitly commits” to it, as well.

Recently, deadly Israeli attacks on Rafah killed dozens of Palestinians and drew global reactions.

Over 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza since the war began in early October.

sa/mud

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