Negotiation for a truce in Gaza to commence
The ongoing ceasefire negotiations for the Gaza Strip, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and supported by the US, have hit a snag as Hamas and Israel disagree on several crucial points.
The latest proposal, which includes a 60-day truce and the phased release of hostages, has been met with reservations from Hamas. The Palestinian militant group has made specific demands that differ from Israel's stance.
Hamas insists that once the ceasefire begins, the United Nations should resume full control over humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza, excluding the Israel and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund. They also want the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to withdraw to their positions as they were before the ceasefire collapsed in March 2021, and clearer assurances that negotiations for a permanent ceasefire will continue beyond the 60-day truce without conditions.
In contrast, Israel has rejected these demands, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stating that the Israel/U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund should remain involved in the aid system, and that the IDF should not withdraw to pre-March lines. Israel also insists on keeping the "good faith" condition for extending the ceasefire, fearing that Hamas might otherwise indefinitely prolong the talks without conclusively ending the conflict.
These differences complicate achieving a fully agreed ceasefire deal for Gaza. While both parties reportedly agree on a provisional ceasefire and hostage release timeline, significant hurdles remain regarding the long-term ceasefire structure, control over aid, and military positions.
The latest violence erupted in June when eight Palestinian employees of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) were killed on their way to a distribution center, which the foundation also blamed on Hamas. The GHF has previously reported attacks on its staff, and UN humanitarian organizations do not work with the GHF, criticizing among other things, that it operates too few distribution centers, exposing people there and on the way to great danger.
The latest deal proposal reportedly only includes the release of ten of the 20 hostages presumed alive in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Two American volunteers were injured in an attack on a food distribution center of the GHF, and the attackers allegedly threw two grenades towards the volunteers. Both volunteers were injured but not critically and are receiving medical treatment.
As the negotiations continue, it remains to be seen whether these differences can be bridged to achieve a lasting peace in the Gaza Strip.
- The community policy regarding the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is experiencing challenges, as Hamas and Israel have conflicting viewpoints on issues such as humanitarian aid control, military positions, and the structure of a permanent ceasefire.
- In the context of war-and-conflicts, the latest general news from Gaza reveals disagreements between Hamas and Israel over various aspects of the ceasefire deal, including the role of the United Nations, the Israeli Defense Forces' position, and assurances for ongoing negotiations beyond the proposed truce.
