Seventeen countries, including the United States, released a joint statement on Thursday endorsing the newest proposal to free the 124 hostages currently held by Hamas in Gaza.
“There’s no time to waste,” declared the statement released by countries whose citizens are among the captives. “We urge Hamas to finalize this agreement, which Israel is prepared to advance, and commence the process of freeing our citizens,” the statement emphasized.
The release of the statement is a component of a large-scale global diplomatic effort initiated by US President Joe Biden on May 31. He introduced a three-phase proposal, which he and his administration officials have indicated has Israel’s endorsement.
In the initial six weeks, the agreement permits the release of humanitarian hostages in exchange for a temporary halt to hostilities. Furthermore, it delineates a negotiation framework aimed at ending the conflict, securing the release of all hostages, and establishing plans for the aftermath and the rebuilding of Gaza.
The countries endorsing the letter included Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.