A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas arrived in Cairo on Saturday evening to “listen to the results of the negotiations so far” among mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the USA, as well as Israel. However, observers are hesitant to call this a hopeful sign, as there is growing belief that the negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza are on the verge of collapsing.
Negotiations have been ongoing since October 7, the day Israel launched a war against Gaza, which has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and the destruction of much of the area. This escalation followed an attack by Hamas that killed 1,139 people and resulted in over 200 individuals being taken hostage.
In May, a potential agreement appeared close, with the USA presenting a draft that was approved by all parties and supported by the UN Security Council on June 10. Hamas accepted the proposal, seeking the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza, allowing people to return to their homes in northern Gaza, international assistance for the reconstruction of Gaza, and the release of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
However, Israeli officials continued to assert that the war in Gaza should persist, culminating in an invasion of Rafah. In contrast, the USA claimed that Israel had accepted the proposal, alleging that it was Hamas holding up progress.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained his rhetoric that the fight must continue until Hamas is “completely defeated” in Gaza. This objective has been deemed unrealistic by parties on both sides. Netanyahu also introduced new demands, insisting that Israel should remain in the Philadelphi corridor near Sinai and establish checkpoints to “control” those returning to their homes in northern Gaza.
Despite the seemingly close possibility of a ceasefire, it dissipated when Netanyahu faced criticism from Israeli negotiators for undermining the discussions. This criticism arose after he made public statements asserting that Israel would not leave the Philadelphi or Netzarim corridors “under any circumstances.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has recently been in the region attempting to address the sticking points hindering progress, reportedly with a “bridge proposal” that may include withdrawal plans. However, Blinken did not confirm whether this plan involves a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
Netanyahu has faced accusations of sabotaging the negotiations, as many now question whether he is genuinely interested in reaching an agreement. According to estimates from the Israeli government, there are still 109 hostages in Gaza, with American officials believing that half of them are still alive.
The current situation has led both Hamas and Israeli security representatives to point to Netanyahu as the individual blocking a ceasefire. Experts are perplexed by the Biden administration’s continued support for Netanyahu despite his apparent obstinacy.
As a result of the current circumstances, criticism of Biden for not conditioning his support for Netanyahu has been increasing. Many argue that it is unsustainable for the USA not to use its influence in international politics to ensure that the parties come to an agreement.
In conclusion, the complex and tense situation suggests that negotiations between Hamas and Israel may be doomed to fail, with many predicting that the entire process could be a facade for the American administration to demonstrate its efforts in seeking a resolution.