International actors have renewed efforts to broker a ceasefire in the nearly seven-month-old Israel-Hamas conflict in recent days.
Israel’s mounting preparations for a ground operation in Rafah, mean this week’s talks in Cairo may be the last opportunity for negotiations to free Israeli hostages and pause or end the war.
According to the White House, US President, Joe Biden has urged the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to “exert all efforts” towards securing the release of hostages held by Hamas as part of negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire.
Biden made the request in phone calls to the leaders saying that the release of hostages is “now the only obstacle to an immediate ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza,” the White House said.
While securing their release is a crucial humanitarian priority, it also serves as a potential bargaining chip that could influence the dynamics of the ceasefire talks.
The White House’s emphasis on the release of hostages as the “only obstacle” to an immediate ceasefire highlights the urgency of addressing this issue as part of broader efforts to de-escalate tensions and restore stability to the region.
The US Secretary of state, Antony Blinken said that “the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire” is Hamas.
Speaking at a World Economic Forum meeting in Saudi Arabia on Monday, Antony Blinken said, “Hamas has before it a proposal that is extraordinarily generous on the part of Israel.”
“They have to decide and they have to decide quickly … I’m hopeful that they will make the right decision and we can have a fundamental change in the dynamic.”
The UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, told the same gathering that Hamas should accept the deal for a “sustained 40 days’ ceasefire.”
It is evident that the ongoing conflict in Gaza has reached a critical juncture, with the potential for both escalation and de-escalation hanging in the balance.
The mounting preparations for a ground operation by Israel in Rafah underscore the urgency of the situation, especially considering the significant civilian population seeking shelter in the area.
Representatives from Egypt, Qatar and Hamas met Monday in Cairo. The Hamas delegation left the Egyptian capital on Monday, saying they would return again with a written response to the ceasefire proposal.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, said Egypt was optimistic about the new talks.
While the road to peace may be fraught with challenges, the current momentum towards negotiations offers a glimmer of hope for a better future for the people of Gaza and the broader Middle East.
Israel To Proceed With Rafah Invasion If Deal Is Not Reached
However, Israeli army radio announced that a plan to attack Gaza’s southern Rafah city will be launched if there is no ceasefire deal with Hamas “in the coming days.”
In a post on social media attributing information to “security officials,” the radio said “the order will be given to launch an operation in Rafah” if progress is not made within days on “negotiations for a deal.”
Hamas negotiators are said to be preparing a written response to what is believed to be an Israeli offer of a 40-day ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Blinken reiterated that the US would not support an Israeli offensive on Rafah until it had seen a plan to prevent harm to civilians.
“We’ve said clearly, and for some time now on Rafah that, in the absence of a plan to ensure that civilians will not be harmed, we can’t support a major military operation,” he said.
He added, “We have not yet seen a plan that gives us confidence that civilians can be effectively protected.”
Netanyahu’s Ministers have publicly sparred on whether to go forward with a truce, with far-right members of his coalition threatening to quit the government if Israel is seen to “surrender” to Hamas’s demands.
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