“Over the next six weeks, Israel will negotiate the necessary agreements to achieve the second phase, which is a permanent end to the war,” Biden said.

Biden promised that both parties would stick to a ceasefire even if negotiations for a permanent end took longer than a month and a half, with Middle East leaders committed to moving those negotiations forward.

Phase two would involve an exchange of the remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. The remaining Israeli forces would be withdrawn from Gaza, Biden said. Previously, documents released by a senior Hamas official said Israeli troops would withdraw to the “perimeter” of the Gaza Strip.

Phase three would see the remains of the deceased hostages returned home and reconstruction plans for Gaza begin.