US President Joe Biden has said the three-step truce agreed between Israel and Hamas includes a “full and complete ceasefire” as part of phase one and a “permanent end to the war” in an unfinalised second phase, AFP reports.
“Phase One will last six weeks. It includes a full and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas,” Biden said in a White House speech.
“During the next six weeks, Israel will negotiate the necessary arrangements to get phase two, which is a permanent end of the war,” he added.