Agendas of Trump and Netanyahu post Iran crisis revelation
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, indirect talks are resuming in Doha, Qatar, as the two sides seek a resolution to the violence that has plagued Gaza for over 21 months. The current negotiations come amidst ongoing Israeli airstrikes in the region, and the obstacles to a permanent resolution are numerous.
The U.S., under the leadership of former President Donald Trump, proposed an initial 60-day ceasefire. This plan includes a partial release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for increased humanitarian aid access to Gaza and calls for future talks aimed at ending the conflict entirely. However, key issues are preventing a permanent resolution.
Hamas insists that any ceasefire must guarantee a total end to the war and Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza. Israel, on the other hand, refuses to end the war unless Hamas is dismantled and exiled. The two sides are also at odds over hostage releases, with Hamas offering to release all hostages in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has only agreed to a temporary truce involving the release of ten hostages.
These impasses, coupled with mutual distrust and prior failed ceasefires, have created a profound mistrust between the two parties. Humanitarian groups also express skepticism due to ongoing violence and blockades, with fears of worsening famine and suffering in Gaza.
Elsewhere in the Middle East, there are signs of hope for broader regional integration and peace. The trend line before the war in Gaza was toward economic cooperation and potential agreements, such as a Saudi agreement recognizing Israel and setting the conditions for a longer-term regional peace. The new government in Lebanon, led by former Chief of Defense Joseph Aoun, aims to keep Hezbollah from re-arming and to resolve the land border with Israel, potentially paving the way toward diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Israel is also in backchannel talks with Syria, and there may be an opening for more formal talks leading to a possible nonaggression pact.
In another development, Iran faces the risk of snapback of UN and international sanctions between now and October if it refuses cooperation over its nuclear material. The aim between now and October 7, 2023, is to achieve a deal that permanently forecloses the possibility of Iran developing nuclear arms. Iran has expressed a willingness to engage with the American side once again, and talks are expected to start soon.
A long-term solution to the Iran nuclear program will likely demand some form of a diplomatic arrangement. Brett McGurk, a CNN global affairs analyst who served in senior national security positions under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, has emphasized the need for diplomacy in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue.
In Syria, new President Ahmed al-Sharaa has made efforts to return the country to a broader regional fold without threatening any of its neighbors, including Israel. These developments suggest that, despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza, there is renewed momentum toward a deal to end the war and bring about a more peaceful and integrated Middle East.
The ongoing negotiations in Doha, Qatar, over the Israel-Hamas conflict are not restricted to just resolving the current violence in Gaza; they also encompass discussion about future policies and legislation, as the U.S. previously proposed a ceasefire plan entailing policy changes and humanitarian aid.
Further, politics plays a significant role in the general news today as Iran faces potential re-imposition of UN and international sanctions due to its nuclear material, necessitating diplomatic talks to achieve a long-term solution.
