delivered 31 May
2024, State Dining Room, White House, Washington, D.C.
Hello, folks.
[The President checks his watch.] Just checking -- it’s afternoon.
Good
afternoon. Before I begin my remarks, I just wanted to say a few words about
what happened yesterday in New York City.
The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed.
Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself.
It was a state case, not a federal case. And it was heard by a jury of 12
citizens -- 12 Americans, 12 people like you. Like millions of Americans who
served on juries, this jury was chosen the same way every jury in America is
chosen. It was a process that Donald Trump’s attorney was part of.
The jury heard five weeks of evidence -- five weeks. And after careful
deliberation, the jury reached a unanimous verdict. They found Donald Trump
guilty on all 34 felony counts. Now he’ll be given the opportunity, as he
should, to appeal that decision just like everyone else has that opportunity.
That’s how the American system of justice works.
And it’s reckless, it’s dangerous, and it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this
was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict.
Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years, and it literally is the
cornerstone of America -- our justice system.
The justice system should be respected, and we should never allow anyone to tear
it down. It’s as simple as that.
That’s America. That’s who we are. And that’s who we’ll always be, God willing.
Now to another issue. I -- I want to give an update on my efforts to end the
crisis in Gaza.
For the past several months, my negotiators of foreign policy, intelligence
community, and the like have been relentlessly focused not just on a ceasefire
that would -- that would inevitably be fragile and temporary but on a
durable end to the war. That’s been the focus: a durable end to this war.
One that brings all the hostages home, ensures Israel’s security, creates a
better “day after” in Gaza without Hamas in power, and sets the stage for a
political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians
alike.
Now, after intensive diplomacy carried out by my team and my many conversations
with leaders of Israel, Qatar, and Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries,
Israel has now offered -- Israel has offered a comprehensive new proposal.
It’s a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
This proposal has been transmitted by Qatar to Hamas.
Today, I want to lay out its terms for the American citizens and for the world.
This new proposal has three phases -- three.
The first phase would last for six weeks. Here’s what it would include: a full
and complete ceasefire; a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas
of Gaza; a release of a number of hostages -- including women, the elderly, the
wounded -- in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
There are American hostages who would be released at this stage, and we want
them home.
Additional, some remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to
their families, bringing some degree of closure to their terrible grief.
Palestinians -- civilians -- would return to their homes and neighborhoods in all
areas of Gaza, including in the north.
Humanitarian assistance would surge with 600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza every
single day.
With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all
who need it. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing
units, would be delivered by the international community.
All of that and more would begin immediately -- immediately.
During the six weeks of -- of phase one, Israel and Hamas would negotiate the
necessary arrangements to get to phase two, which is a permanent end to -- to hostilities.
Now, I’ll be straight with you. There are a number of details to negotiate to
move from phase one to phase two. Israel will want to make sure its interests
are protected.
But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase
one, the ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.
And the United States, Egypt, and Qatar would work to ensure negotiations keep
going -- all agreements -- all agreements -- until all the agreements are reached
and phase two is able to begin.
Then phase two: There would be an exchange for the release of all remaining
living hostages, including male soldiers; Israeli forces would withdraw from
Gaza; and as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, a temporary ceasefire
would become, in the words of the -- the Israeli proposal, “the cessation
of hostilities permanently,” end of quote. “Cessation of hostilities
permanently.”
Finally, in phase three, a major reconstruction plan for -- for Gaza
would commence. And any final remains of hostages who have been killed would be
returned to their families.
That’s the offer that’s now on the table and what we’ve been asking for. It’s
what we need.
The people of Israel should know they can make this offer without any further
risk to their own security because they’ve devastated Hamas form -- forces over
the past eight months. At this point, Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out
another October 7th, which -- one of the Israelis’ main objective in this war
and, quite frankly, a righteous one.
I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call
for the war to continue indefinitely. Some -- Some are even in the government
coalition. And they’ve made it clear: They want to occupy Gaza, they want to
keep fighting for years, and the hostages are not a priority to them.
Well, I’ve urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite
whatever pressure comes.
And to the people of Israel, let me say this. As someone whose had a lifelong
commitment to Israel, as the only American president who has ever gone to Israel
in a time of war, as someone who just sent the U.S. forces to directly defend
Israel when it was attacked by Iran, I ask you to take a step back and think
what will happen if this moment is lost.
We can’t lose this moment. Indefinite war in pursuit of an unidentified notion
of “total victory” will not bring Israel in -- will not bring down -- bog down
-- will only bog down Israel in Gaza, draining the economic, military, and human
--
and human resources, and furthering Israel’s isolation in the world.
That will not bring hostages home. That will not -- not bring an enduring defeat
of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security.
But a comprehensive approach that starts with this deal will bring hostages home
and will lead to a more secure Israel. And once a ceasefire and hostage deal is
concluded, it unlocks the possibility of a great deal more progress, including
--
including calm along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
The United States will help forge a diplomatic resolution, one that ensures
Israel’s security and allows people to safely return to their homes without fear
of being attacked.
With a deal, a rebuilding of Gaza will begin [with] Arab nations and the
international community, along with Palestinian and Israeli leaders, to get it
done in a manner that does not allow Hamas to re-arm.
And the United States will work with our partners to rebuild homes, schools, and
hospitals in Gaza to help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of
war.
And with this deal, Israel could become more deeply integrated into the region,
including -- it’s no surprise to you all -- including no -- a potential
historic normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia. Israel could be part of a
regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran.
All of this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no
longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack.
And all of this would create the conditions for a different future and a better
future for the Palestinian people, one of self-determination, dignity, security,
and freedom. This path is available once the deal is struck.
Israel will always have the right to defend itself against the threats to its
security and to bring those responsible for October 7th to justice. And the
United States will always ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself.
If Hamas fails to fulfill its commitments under the deal, Israel can resume
military operations. But Egypt and Qatar have assured me and they are continuing
to work to ensure that Hamas doesn’t do that. And the United States will help
ensure that Israel lives up to their obligations as well.
That’s what this deal says. That’s what it says. And we’ll do our part.
This is truly a decisive moment. Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it
wants a ceasefire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean
it.
Hamas needs to take the deal.
For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire. Now it’s time
to raise your voices and to demand that Hasa -- Hamas come to the table, agrees
to this deal, and ends this war that they began.
Of course, there will be differences on the specific details that need to be
worked out. That’s natural. If Hamas comes to negotiate ready to deal, then
Israel negotiations must be given a mandate, the necessary flexibility to close
that deal.
The past eight months have marked heartbreaking pain: pain of those whose loved
ones were slaughtered by Hamas terrorists on October 7th; hostages and their
families waiting in anguish; ordinary Israelis whose lives were forever marked
by the shattering event of Hamas’s sexual violence and ruthless brutality.
And the Palestinian people have endured sheer hell in this war. Too many
innocent people have been killed, including thousands of children. Far too many
have been badly wounded.
We all saw the terrible images from the deadly fire in Rafah earlier this week
following an Israeli strike against -- targeting Hamas. And even as we work to
surge assistance to Gaza, with 1,800 trucks delivering supplies these last five
days -- 1,800 -- the humanitarian crisis still remains.
I know this is a subject on which people in this country feel deep, passionate
convictions. And so do I. This has been one of the hardest, most complicated
problems in the world. There’s nothing easy about this -- nothing easy about it.
Through it all, though, the United States has worked relentlessly to support
Israelis’ security, to get humanitarian supplies into Gaza, and to get a
ceasefire and a hostage deal to bring this war to an end.
Yesterday, with this new initiative, we’ve taken an important step in that
direction.
And I want to level with you today as to where we are and what might be
possible. But I need your help. Everyone who wants peace now must raise their
voices and let the leaders know they should take this deal; work to make it
real, make it lasting; and forge a better future out of the tragic terror attack
and war.
It’s time to begin this new stage, for the hostages to come home, for Israel to
be secure, for the suffering to stop. It’s time for this war to end and for the
day after to begin.
Thank you very much.
Original Text Source: WhiteHouse.gov
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