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Progress in Ceasefire Negotiations Amid Ongoing Conflict
Israel’s military actions in Gaza have escalated once again following the breakdown of a ceasefire in March.
Qatar’s Prime Minister recently noted that while there has been “a bit of progress” in discussions aimed at establishing a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, significant challenges remain. He emphasized the pressing issue of finding a solution to end the ongoing war.
During a convening in Doha, Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s foreign minister, stated that Hamas has shown a greater willingness to engage in dialogues aiming for a sustainable resolution to the conflict.
Despite previously dismissing Israel’s most recent ceasefire proposal over a week ago, Hamas appears to now be open to negotiations that could lead to the release of all hostages in exchange for a cessation of hostilities for a minimum of five years.
Moreover, Hamas has suggested a potential disarmament condition linked to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza; however, current indications suggest that Israel is unlikely to comply with this demand.
Following a comprehensive blockade that Israel enforced in early March, air and ground assaults resumed towards the end of that month.
According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, the conflict has claimed 2,151 Palestinian lives since March, with 51 casualties reported in the latest 24 hours.
Intensified clashes have led to casualties on both sides, including the deaths of an Israeli soldier and a police officer on Friday.
On Thursday, David Barnea, head of Israel’s Mossad, met with Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss the ongoing situation.
Sheikh Mohammed remarked on the slight advancements in dialogue compared to previous gatherings but reiterated the need for definitive solutions to end the fighting.
Last week, Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal that advocated for a 45-day ceasefire, which would necessitate Hamas’s complete disarmament and the release of 10 of the remaining 59 hostages.
The Qatari leader indicated that finding a breakthrough remains a challenge, with both parties having differing expectations regarding the terms of a ceasefire.
He mentioned that Hamas had offered to return all remaining hostages in exchange for an end to hostilities, while Israel seeks the release of hostages without clarifying its strategy for resolving the conflict.
“When a common objective is lacking between the involved parties, the chances of reaching a peaceful resolution are significantly diminished,” Sheikh Mohammed expressed during a press conference in Doha.
A Hamas delegation recently conducted discussions with Egyptian officials in Cairo, which reportedly centered around a ceasefire and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
A Palestinian official, who wished to remain anonymous, indicated that Hamas has expressed a willingness to transfer governance of Gaza to an agreed-upon Palestinian entity, which could involve either the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA) or a newly established administrative body.
The United States has also endorsed the concept of restructuring the PA to take control of Gaza following the conflict.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has dismissed any potential role for the PA in Gaza’s future and opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state.
In a recent development, PA President Mahmoud Abbas appointed his close associate Hussein al-Sheikh as his deputy in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), highlighting ongoing internal political dynamics.
Abbas, aged 89, has been at the helm of the PLO and PA since 2004, yet he has shown reluctance towards internal reforms, including naming a potential successor.
The PA leadership has often maintained that it is prepared to assume governance of Gaza post-conflict, yet it faces criticism from Palestinians for perceived inaction and for not taking stronger stances.
In a passionate address at a Palestinian Central Council meeting in Ramallah, Abbas lashed out at Hamas, calling the group “sons of dogs” and demanding disarmament and the handover of Gaza’s administration.
The longstanding rivalry between Hamas and Abbas’s Fatah faction, which leads the PA, has hindered the emergence of a unified Palestinian leadership capable of addressing both west bank and Gaza concerns.
The Hamas-run health ministry reported that the death toll from the conflict has risen to at least 52,243, including hundreds who were previously missing but whose deaths have now been confirmed.
The ministry stated that “an additional 697 martyrs have been added to the cumulative statistics,” which were validated by a committee monitoring missing persons.
It also refuted claims that it had manipulated death toll figures following media scrutiny about discrepancies in their reporting.
In a related note, the UN World Food Programme recently warned that its food supplies in Gaza have completely run out due to the ongoing blockade instituted by Israel.
According to the UN, Israel bears legal obligations under international law to ensure that essential supplies reach the 2.1 million Palestinians residing in Gaza. Israel, conversely, contends that it is fulfilling its legal responsibilities and sees no existing aid shortages.
During the press conference in Doha, Sheikh Mohammed condemned what he characterized as Israel’s “starvation” tactics.
The conflict ignited on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a cross-border offensive, leading to approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the abduction of 251 hostages, as reported by Israeli authorities.
Israel’s subsequent military response has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza, alongside significant devastation across the territory.
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