Joe Biden ignores that Israel rejected ceasefire deal, says Hamas ‘only obstacle’ to peace

On 3 June, Joe Biden said in a phone call to the Emir of Qatar regarding the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal that:

Hamas is now the only obstacle to a complete ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza

But Biden is again covering for Israel. The Israeli state rejected a permanent ceasefire proposal in early May that Hamas agreed to.

Moreover, as the Times of Israel reported on 4 June Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said:

We are waiting for a clear Israeli position that represents the entire government in response to the US’s Gaza proposal.

On top of that, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that any permanent peace deal is a “non-starter” for Israel. That’s because Netanyahu wants the complete “destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities”.

Since 7 October, Israel has killed at least 37,077 Palestinians including over 15,000 children.

Rejected peace deal

Guarantors to the agreement in early May were the UN, the US, Egypt, and Qatar.

The deal stated that Hamas should release all Israeli detainees in exchange for a number of Palestinian detainees. A “permanent cessation of military and hostile operations” would facilitate this, leading to a “reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip over a period of three to five years – including homes, civilian facilities, and infrastructure – and compensating all those affected begins, under the supervision of several countries and organisations”.

Israel’s genocidal bombardment has destroyed 70% of the homes in Gaza. The targeting of civilian homes and infrastructure is a war crime. Indeed, the International Criminal Court is officially seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, as well as for three Hamas leaders.

The proposal finished by stating there would then be a “complete end to the siege of the Gaza Strip”. While Israel withdrew its military bases in Gaza in 2005, it maintains the longstanding occupation through a blockade by land, air, and sea.

‘Sacrificing’ the Israeli detainees

Israel seems intent on rejecting peace. Netanyahu’s national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi recently said that the Israeli prime minister will not accept a deal that ensures the release of Israeli detainees unless it polls well for him.

A group supporting the detainees commented that the “Israeli government made a conscious and deliberate decision to sacrifice” them.

It’s clear that Biden’s claim that Hamas is the “only obstacle” to peace is false. It demonstrates that the US is still covering for Israel’s genocidal crimes. That’s shameful and we must condemn it.

Featured image via Israeli PM – YouTube and Associated Press – YouTube