Hamas have recently declared that it accepts Qatari and Egyptian mediators proposal for a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal with Israel
This move by Hamas places the ball in Isreal court and mounts more pressure on isreal to end the war.
However will isreal agree to the ceasefire? Despite its solid aim to extinguish Hamas troops from Palestine once and for all
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the proposal accepted by Hamas was “far from Israel’s basic requirements” but negotiations would continue
Backstory
Due to the humanitarian implications of the war, Qatar and Egypt mediators proposed a ceasefire deal which Hamas and Isreal had vehemently refused based on varied reasons, this had stalled mediation session on Sunday which resumed on Tuesday
However, Hamas have recently agreed to a ceasefire proposal contrary to prior position.
This spurs a lot of questions as to the back story of this agreement?
- Could the reason for their sudden change of heart be due to the woes of Palestine or to hide under the disguise of Palestinian woes to protect themselves from the vengeful wrath of isreali military?
- Could there also be an hidden agenda in Hamas recent arrangements
- Can the headquarter of Hamas group be considered to be liberal in their proposition or is this just a ploy to force the hands of Isreal?
Details of the proposal
Although specific details were not provided, there are still some information given on the proposal accepted by Hamas
A senior Palestinian official, familiar with the proposal, informed the BBC that Hamas had agreed to cease “hostile activity forever” upon meeting the conditions. This suggests that Hamas may be considering ending its armed struggle, although no further specifics were given. The cessation would occur as part of a two-phase ceasefire deal, each phase lasting 42 days.
In the initial stage, the release of female Israeli soldiers held hostage would be exchanged for 50 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, some of whom are serving life sentences.
Throughout this phase, Israeli troops would maintain their presence in Gaza. However, within 11 days of the ceasefire taking effect, Israel would commence the dismantling of its military installations in the central region of the territory. Additionally, it would withdraw from Salah al-Din Road, the primary north-south route, and the coastal road.
The second phase would conclude with a “sustainable long period of calm” and the complete lifting of the blockade of Gaza, according to the official.
Why it matters
Public opinion all over the world have recently been mounting pressure on isreal to cease fire on Gaza calling the war a genocide attack on Palestinians
With the recent agreement of Hamas to the ceasefire proposal, more pressure mounted on isreal to equally agree to the proposal for a temporal peace
However a valid clause to this agreement is the proposed long lasting peace between Hamas and isreal
What they are saying?
Israel launched airstrikes on Rafah on Monday, as they had previously threatened. They also issued warnings for Palestinians living in Rafah to evacuate.
Tens of thousands of residents are believed to have been affected by the operation, with many seen cramming into vehicles or onto donkey carts on Monday.
A Hamas official described the evacuation order for eastern parts of Rafah, followed by Israeli airstrikes, as a “dangerous escalation.”
Hamas officials have also declared that the The ball is now in the court of [Israel], whether it will agree to the ceasefire agreement or obstruct it
An unnamed Israeli official quickly informed Reuters news agency that the proposal accepted by Hamas was a “softened” version of an Egyptian proposal, which contained “far-reaching” conclusions that Israel could not accept.
“This seems to be a tactic aimed at portraying Israel as the party rejecting a deal,” the official remarked.
Subsequently, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office stated, “Despite the Hamas proposal falling short of Israel’s fundamental requirements, Israel will dispatch a delegation of mediators to explore the possibility of reaching an agreement on terms acceptable to Israel.”
Israel’s war cabinet opted to continue the Rafah operation concurrently, aiming to apply military pressure on Hamas to achieve several objectives: securing the release of hostages, dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, and ensuring that Gaza does not pose a future threat to Israel.
Bottom Line
The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel offers hope for peace in the Middle East. However, the intricacies and undisclosed aspects of the truce raise concerns about its ability to effectively maintain peace amidst ongoing conflict.
