Tension in Negotiations Regarding Ceasefire due to Dispute over Israeli Military's Persistent Position in Gaza - Disputes Arise in Ceasefire Negotiations Regarding Persistent Israeli Military Presence in Gaza
The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, which began in October 2023, has claimed the lives of over 57,800 people, according to Hamas authorities. The conflict was initiated by Hamas and its affiliated fighters with a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Recent developments in the negotiations for a ceasefire have come to a stalemate, with the radical Islamic group Hamas unlikely to accept the Israeli government's proposal. The Israeli proposal outlines a 60-day ceasefire during which Israel would pull back to buffer zones along Gaza's borders, allowing significant aid into Gaza, distributed by international agencies. The plan also involves hostage exchanges and talks toward a permanent ceasefire.
However, Hamas has requested changes and has not accepted the terms as they stand. A key sticking point is that the proposal stops short of guaranteeing a permanent end to the war, which Hamas demands. The reoccupied half of the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli proposal, would be transformed into isolated zones with no connections or freedom of movement.
The Israeli army has been conducting large-scale military operations in the Gaza Strip, targeting "terrorists, booby-trapped buildings, weapons storage facilities, anti-tank rocket launch sites, sniper positions, tunnels, and other terror infrastructure facilities". Over the past 48 hours, the Israeli army announced that it had targeted "around 250 terror targets" in the Gaza Strip.
The Hamas-controlled Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip accused the Israeli army of killing at least 14 people in Saturday's attacks. On Friday, the Civil Defense reported over 30 deaths, including 10 people waiting for the distribution of humanitarian aid. Currently, 49 hostages are still being held by the Islamists, with at least 27 of them reportedly dead.
The talks are being held in Qatar, with the US, Egypt, and Qatar acting as mediators. Mediators of the talks have asked both sides to postpone the talks until the arrival of US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Doha. Recent reports indicate that hostage-ceasefire negotiations are near collapse, reflecting the deep disagreements over security arrangements and military presence.
Palestinian sources claim that Israel's aim is to delay negotiations and continue its "war of destruction". Despite these challenges, indirect negotiations between delegations from Hamas and Israel continue in Qatar, with both sides hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
The Council, in light of the ongoing conflict and the stalemate in ceasefire negotiations, has adopted a resolution on the situation in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the urgent need for a political solution to prevent further war-and-conflicts and loss of lives. This resolution also demands the immediate end of hostilities and the resumption of general-news negotiations towards a ceasefire and permanent peace.
