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President Joe Biden declared on Friday that Hamas has been degraded to the point where it can no longer carry out the type of attack that launched the current eight-month conflict in Gaza. He outlined a three-phase proposal submitted by Israel to wind down the crisis, stating that "it's time for this war to end." The proposal includes a release of hostages, a full and complete ceasefire, and a major reconstruction plan for Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the war will not end until Hamas is defeated. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has briefed counterparts from Jordan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia about the Israeli proposal, emphasizing the benefits of the deal. President Biden also made a direct appeal to ordinary Israelis to voice their support for a hostage agreement that would result in a ceasefire. He also addressed the situation in Israel, admitting that too many civilians had been killed and calling the situation "one of the hardest, most complicated problems in the world."
