President Joe Biden is pushing Hamas to accept a US-mediated ceasefire proposal that would require major concessions from Israel.

“It’s time for this war to end,” Biden said in a televised address from the White House on Friday. “At this point, Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another October 7, just one of Israel’s main objectives in this war, and quite frankly a righteous one,” Biden said.

The proposed ceasefire would unfold in three phases, with the first lasting six weeks and including a temporary cessation of hostilities, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza, and the slow release of Israeli hostages, including women, the elderly, and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of dangerous Arab prisoners.

The second phase would involve a permanent end to the conflict, further Israeli withdrawals, and additional prisoner exchanges, while the third would focus on reconstructing Gaza and returning any remaining hostages alive or dead.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly rejected Biden’s proposal, insisting that the country would not end the war until Hamas is soundly defeated.

“The Israeli government is united in the desire to return our hostages as soon as possible and is working to achieve this goal,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

“Therefore, the Prime Minister authorized the negotiating team to present an outline for achieving this goal while insisting that the war will not end until all of its goals are achieved, including the return of all our hostages and the elimination of Hamas’ military and governmental capabilities.”