Impending Gaza Ceasefire Breaks Down: Diverging Paths for Israel and Hamas | CNN

The ceasefire in Gaza is at a critical point. Many Israeli hostages were released, and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were freed. However, Israel and Hamas are divided on what happens next.

Israel wants to continue exchanging hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Current reports suggest around 24 Israeli hostages are still alive in Gaza. The aim is to bring more aid into the region too.

On the other hand, Hamas is pushing for a withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas in Gaza and is looking for a permanent solution to the conflict as part of the next phase of negotiations.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on both sides to avoid falling back into violence. He stressed that avoiding a return to hostilities is imperative.

At the moment, there are no negotiations happening for the second phase of the ceasefire, which was supposed to begin immediately. Hamas claims Israel is responsible for the delay in talks.

A spokesperson from Hamas expressed frustration, stating that Israel seeks to bring back its captives while still being ready to resume military action against Gaza. They believe this contradicts the terms of the ceasefire.

The ceasefire remains in effect as long as discussions continue, but it’s unclear if they’re actually taking place. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting with ministers to discuss the hostage situation.

Just recently, an Israeli delegation returned from Cairo after a brief visit, revealing attempts to extend the first phase of the agreement for more hostage releases.

In a show of pressure, Hamas released a video featuring Israeli hostages, including a scene of a recently freed captive saying goodbye to his brother, who is still in captivity. The family of the hostages has urged leaders not to halt the negotiations, emphasizing the urgency to bring all hostages home.

The Israeli government has criticized the video, calling it cruel psychological warfare.

The ceasefire began in January. So far, 33 Israeli hostages have been released. This group includes two men held for over ten years, and several foreign workers from Thailand. Additionally, eight bodies were returned to their families.

In return, 1,737 Palestinian prisoners were released, including many women and children. These prisoners varied in terms of their sentences, with some having been in jail for decades.

As part of the ceasefire, Israeli forces also pulled back from a significant corridor that divides northern and southern Gaza.

However, the process has seen its fair share of difficulties. Both sides accused the other of violating the agreement. For instance, Israel was upset about the publicized handover ceremonies organized by Hamas, leading to further tensions.

In the wake of these challenges, talks about a second phase were supposed to start in early February but have faced multiple delays, fueled by accusations of disinterest from Israel.

Right-wing members of Israel’s administration are pushing for a return to military action once the first phase concludes, adding pressure to Prime Minister Netanyahu, who needs to secure support to pass the budget.

Despite facing immense pressure, Hamas has proven resilient during the first phase. The goals of a permanent ceasefire and the dismantling of Hamas seem fundamentally at odds, especially since the group shows no intent to disarm.

Meanwhile, there are evolving Arab plans seeking to provide a path forward for Gaza’s future, moving away from previous proposals. This plan, which includes internal governance and reconstruction, is expected to be discussed at an upcoming Arab League summit.

However, this long-term plan relies on a sustainable end to hostilities, something the Israeli government does not seem ready to pursue at this time.

Source link