Ceasefire Talks Resume as Gaza Conflict IntensifiesCeasefire Talks Resume as Gaza Conflict Intensifies Amidst the escalating violence in Gaza, a renewed effort is underway to end the bloodshed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders are engaged in talks through mediators, discussing a ceasefire plan that has been stalled for months. Hamas’s New Proposal On Wednesday, Hamas presented “ideas” to mediators in Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey on achieving a ceasefire and a prisoner-exchange deal. Israel acknowledged receiving Hamas’s communication but did not disclose details. International Pressure Mounting international pressure is driving both Israel and Hamas to seek a resolution. With the death toll in Gaza nearing 38,000 and living conditions deteriorating, stakeholders are urging a ceasefire based on a UN-backed plan outlined by US President Joe Biden in May. Conflicting Interpretations Negotiations have stalled due to differing interpretations of the UN-backed deal, which involves a three-phase process of ceasing hostilities and exchanging prisoners. Netanyahu’s Hesitation While the US maintains Israel’s support for the deal, Netanyahu has expressed reservations and vowed to continue the war until Hamas is “eradicated.” Hamas seeks a firm commitment that the war will end definitively. Signs of Progress Recent communication between Hamas and the mediators suggests that talks are gaining momentum. Hamas hopes to reach an agreement “aimed at stopping the aggression against our Palestinian people.” Israeli Response Netanyahu’s office confirmed receiving Hamas’s proposals and stated that Israel is “evaluating” them. A source familiar with the negotiations said Qatar and the US have been working behind the scenes to bridge the remaining differences between the parties. Challenges Ahead Experts highlight continuing challenges, including disagreement over whether the deal will end the war completely and the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for Israelis. Deep divisions within the Israeli military and political establishments also complicate matters.
Friday, July 5, 2024 02:30 | By
A city in Gaza under attack. PHOTO/@InsiderWorld_1/X
A new effort is underway to end the bloodshed in Gaza as both Israel and Hamas hold talks with mediators over a long-stalled ceasefire plan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene a meeting of his security cabinet on Thursday to discuss Hamas’ latest proposal, an anonymous source inside his office told Reuters.
Hamas said Wednesday it presented new “ideas” to mediators in Qatar, Egypt and Turkey on how to reach a ceasefire and captive-exchange deal. Israel confirmed it was “evaluating” Hamas’s “comments” but gave no details.
The development comes as Israel continues to batter the southern city of Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city, forcing an estimated 250,000 Palestinians to flee. An airstrike near the main hospital killed at least seven people.
With the death toll in Gaza approaching 38,000 and conditions for residents deteriorating daily, both Israel and Hamas are under increasing international pressure to reach a ceasefire, most recently based on a United Nations-backed plan outlined by US President Joe Biden in May.
However, conflicting interpretations of that deal, which splits the cessation of hostilities and the prisoner exchange into three phases, have stalled negotiations.
While the US insists that Israel supports the deal, Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly questioned it and vowed not to end the war until Hamas is “eradicated.” Hamas, which has agreed to the deal’s framework, wants a commitment that it will end the war for good.
Little progress has been made in the negotiations since June 11, when Hamas indicated it was prepared to deal “positively” with the proposal but made a number of “amendments” it described as minor.
In a sign that the talks are gaining new momentum, Hamas said it is again communicating with officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey with “the aim of reaching an agreement.”
“We have exchanged a number of ideas with the mediating brothers with the aim of stopping the aggression against our Palestinian people,” a Hamas statement said.
Netanyahu’s office and the Mossad intelligence service confirmed the new approach almost immediately.
“The mediators of the hostage deal have conveyed Hamas’ comments on the main points to the negotiating team… Israel is evaluating the comments and will convey its response to the mediators,” an Israeli statement said.
A source with knowledge of the talks, quoted by AFP news agency, said Qatari and US efforts to bridge the “remaining rift” between Israel and Hamas have been going on in the background for weeks.
Rami Khouri, a researcher at the American University of Beirut, told Al Jazeera that the news of the resumed talks is encouraging, but that there are still key sticking points, including whether the deal will end the war “completely” and how many Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for Israeli prisoners.
Political analyst Omar Baddar said there are “serious divisions” between the Israeli military and political establishments over how to proceed.
Military leaders, he told Al Jazeera, realize that there is “no path to a better future for Israel out of this whole mess, and it is time to simply end this war.” – Xinhua
