Over four months have passed, and there is still no ceasefire in Gaza. Despite multiple failed attempts, the United States, Israel, Hamas, Qatar, and Egypt met on Tuesday to discuss a new plan. The proposal presented by the Palestinian delegation aims to modify the previous negotiations in Paris, and President Joe Biden has suggested that it could result in up to six weeks of a military pause.
Biden stated that the United States is working on a hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas, which would bring immediate relief to Gaza for at least six weeks. The goal is to use this temporary period to build a more lasting solution. The negotiation teams, including representatives from the CIA and Mossad, met in Cairo this week under tight security measures. The Israeli delegation comprises individuals from Mossad, Shin Bet internal security, and the Israeli Army, while the Palestinian delegation includes representatives from Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
The head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service, Abbas Kamel, also participated in the discussion session, along with leaders of Egypt’s security apparatus. The aim is to expedite the implementation of an agreement that could lead to weeks of fighting suspension and eventually achieve a permanent ceasefire.
However, last week, both Israel and Hamas rejected each other’s proposals, further escalating tensions. Israel wants to exchange hostages without ending the offensive in Gaza, while Hamas insists on a definitive ceasefire and the withdrawal of troops as essential conditions for reaching an agreement and releasing the hostages.
Moreover, tension among Israel’s allies has increased due to their refusal to halt attacks on the Strip and the increasing violence from settlers in the West Bank. NBC News reported that President Biden referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an “asshole” multiple times, expressing frustration with him as the main obstacle to accepting a ceasefire. Biden believes it is impossible to negotiate with Netanyahu and insists that enough is enough.
As diplomacy continues, the Israeli military offensive continues to escalate, with Tel Aviv’s attacks causing more deaths and injuries. In the last 24 hours, there have been 133 deaths and 162 injuries, increasing the total number of casualties to 28,473 deaths and 68,146 injuries. The Gaza Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas, stated that there have been 16 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, with many victims still trapped under rubble and on roads due to restricted access for ambulances and rescuers.
The Israeli military has concentrated its offensive in the south of the Strip, specifically in Khan Younis, and is preparing for a land incursion in Rafah, a city bordering Egypt. Most of the nearly two million displaced people, comprising almost the entire Gazan population, are concentrated in Rafah, exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the Israeli authorities’ actions, expressing concern for the safety and well-being of the civilians affected.