Attempts intensify for the establishment of a truce in the Gaza conflict
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, a ceasefire deal is reportedly on the horizon. Egypt and Qatar, acting as primary mediators, have been negotiating with Hamas to broker a peace agreement. This deal, which is similar to a previously U.S.-backed plan for a 60-day ceasefire, includes a hostage-prisoner exchange and a path toward a broader agreement to end the war and increased humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Egypt and Qatar have been holding talks with Hamas, with Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani recently joining negotiations alongside Egyptian officials. Both countries are pushing for the implementation of the ceasefire deal and a phased approach to ending the conflict.
The U.S., through its envoy Steve Witkoff, originally proposed this 60-day ceasefire plan. Although Witkoff had withdrawn from talks recently, Egypt has invited him back to help finalize the deal. The U.S. is thus playing a significant diplomatic role by seeking a lasting ceasefire and the return of all hostages, though the exact U.S. response to rejoining talks remains unclear. Egyptian officials have been coordinating with other international actors to pressure Israel for acceptance of the ceasefire.
Israel, however, has not officially responded to this latest agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged media reports but emphasized that Hamas remains "under immense pressure" and reiterated that the war will continue until Hamas is disarmed. Israel insists on the release of all remaining Israeli hostages alive and the return of the remains of others before agreeing to ceasefire conditions.
The current status is that Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire deal involving a hostage-prisoner exchange with Israel, brokered by mediators from Egypt and Qatar. The deal includes releasing about half of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Israel releasing some Palestinian prisoners.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken as hostages to Gaza. The death toll rose to six when Al-Jazeera journalist Anas al-Shaer and four other staff members were killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. Israel's military claimed they had killed Al-Shaer and his colleagues in a targeted air strike on a tent for journalists in the city of Gaza.
Amidst the ongoing military actions, there is cautious optimism regarding the ceasefire deal. The European Union has condemned the killing of Al-Jazeera journalist Anas al-Shaer and his colleagues, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has demanded clear evidence regarding Israel's claim that the Al-Jazeera group were Hamas terrorists in the interest of the rule of law. The EU has also called for more support for the needy people in the besieged Gaza Strip and urged Israel to allow more trucks in and facilitate better distribution of aid.
US businessman Bishara Bahbah, a confidant of US President Donald Trump, has also called for both warring parties to return to the negotiating table. Bahbah suggested that a 60-day ceasefire would save lives, protect hostages from further danger, and create conditions for real progress. However, Trump seems to agree with Netanyahu's argument that more military pressure on Hamas is needed.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in more than 61,000 deaths according to the health authority controlled by Hamas in Gaza, although the number does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Netanyahu is only willing to negotiate an agreement that includes the release of all remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip and ends the war on Israeli terms, including Hamas laying down its arms.
The ceasefire deal remains fragile, but with the active mediation of Egypt and Qatar, the diplomatic backing of the U.S., and the call for peace from the international community, there is hope for a resolution to the conflict in Gaza.
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