Ophir Falk, Netanyahu’s Chief Foreign Policy Adviser, Reveals Israel’s Reluctant Agreement to U.S. President Biden’s Framework for Ending the Gaza War
Jerusalem — In a notable yet contentious decision, an aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that Israel has accepted a framework deal proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden to de-escalate the Gaza conflict. Despite the agreement, the aide described the deal as deeply flawed, requiring substantial amendments.
In an interview with Britain’s Sunday Times, Ophir Falk, Netanyahu’s chief foreign policy adviser, revealed, “It’s a deal we agreed to — it’s not a good deal but we dearly want the hostages released, all of them.” He emphasized that significant details remain unresolved, particularly regarding Israel’s core demands: the release of hostages and the complete dismantling of Hamas as a genocidal terrorist organization.
Biden’s proposal marks a shift from his initial unconditional support for Israel’s offensive, which has drawn global criticism due to its high civilian toll. On Friday, Biden outlined a three-phase plan devised by the Netanyahu government aimed at ending the war. The first phase involves a truce and the return of some hostages held by Hamas. This would be followed by negotiations on an open-ended cessation of hostilities during which remaining captives would be freed.
However, this sequence suggests that Hamas might continue to have a role in mediated arrangements by Egypt and Qatar, potentially conflicting with Israel’s goal of eliminating the Iranian-backed group.
Biden has previously endorsed several ceasefire initiatives with similar frameworks, all of which have faltered. In February, he announced that Israel had agreed to halt fighting by Ramadan, yet no such truce emerged. The primary obstacle has been Israel’s stance on only agreeing to temporary pauses until Hamas is eradicated. Hamas, conversely, demands a path to a permanent end to the conflict as a condition for releasing hostages.
In his speech, Biden claimed that his latest plan “creates a better ‘day after’ in Gaza without Hamas in power,” though he admitted the need for further negotiations to transition from phase one to phase two. Falk reaffirmed that “there will not be a permanent ceasefire until all our objectives are met.”
Netanyahu faces internal political pressure to maintain his coalition government. Far-right partners have threatened to withdraw support if any agreement appears to spare Hamas, while centrist ally and former general Benny Gantz supports considering Biden’s plan.
Hamas has tentatively welcomed the Biden initiative. Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Al Jazeera, “Biden’s speech included positive ideas, but we want this to materialize within the framework of a comprehensive agreement that meets our demands.” Hamas’s conditions include an end to the Gaza offensive, withdrawal of invading forces, unrestricted movement for Palestinians, and reconstruction aid.
Israeli officials, however, reject these conditions, viewing them as a return to the pre-October 7 status quo. On that date, Hamas militants initiated the war by breaching the border fence, killing 1,200 people, and taking over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
The ensuing Israeli military response has devastated Gaza, with more than 36,000 Palestinians killed, as reported by Gaza medical officials. Israel has also suffered significant casualties, with 290 troops reported dead.
As negotiations and political maneuvers continue, the path to a durable peace in Gaza remains fraught with complexities and mutual distrust, making Biden’s proposal a pivotal yet controversial step in the ongoing conflict.
