International pressure mounted Monday for a ceasefire in Gaza as Britain, France and Germany made a joint plea for an end to fighting between Israel and Hamas with “no further delay”.
The call came a day after Palestinian militant group Hamas — whose October 7 attack on Israel triggered the war — urged mediators to implement a truce plan presented by US President Joe Biden instead of holding more talks.
“The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released,” French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a joint statement.
International mediators have invited Israel and Hamas to resume talks towards a long-sought truce and hostage-release deal, after deadly Gaza strikes and the killings of Iran-aligned militant leaders sparked fears of a wider conflict.
Israel has accepted the invitation from the United States, Qatar and Egypt to send negotiators for talks planned for Thursday.
“The reason we’re doing that is to finalise the details of the implementation of the framework agreement,” Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told a news conference.
Unveiling the plan, Biden had said the first phase of the proposed roadmap would include a “full and complete ceasefire” lasting six weeks, with Israeli forces withdrawing from “all populated areas of Gaza” and some hostages freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The second phase would see the remaining living hostages released as the warring sides negotiate “a permanent end to hostilities”, followed by “a major reconstruction plan for Gaza” and the return of dead hostages’ remains.