Message on 'ceasefire' from Israeli President Herzog: 'If he accepts...'

In his speech at a law conference held at Tel Aviv University, Herzog said, "I told the Prime Minister that I would give him and the government my support for a deal to release the hostages (held by Hamas)."

Herzog added, "When it comes to Israeli citizens who are not protected by the state, they must be returned home as part of a deal that will protect the security interests of the State of Israel."

In his speech at the White House on May 31, Biden stated that Israel had presented a new three-phase ceasefire proposal, noting that the first phase envisions a six-week ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from residential areas in Gaza, and the release of some of the hostages held by the parties.

Biden stated that in the second phase, where negotiations for a transition to a permanent end to hostilities would be conducted, all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, would be released, Israel would withdraw from Gaza (as in the first phase), the temporary ceasefire would turn into a permanent end to hostilities, and if the parties reach an agreement on all issues in the second phase and the ceasefire becomes permanent, the third phase would begin, during which the reconstruction of Gaza would be on the agenda and the bodies of any remaining deceased hostages would be returned.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the other hand, had insisted that the war would continue until all goals in the Gaza Strip were achieved.

Hamas also announced that they viewed the proposal presented by Israel and announced by US President Joe Biden regarding a "permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, and a prisoner exchange" positively.