Gaza ceasefire deal on edge of collapse - Politico
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
The agreement to end hostilities in Gaza, which was prepared by the United States, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar, is on the edge of collapse. Despite the agreement signed by Israel, the Hamas movement has refused to accept it in public statements, jeopardizing further efforts to reach a peaceful settlement, according to Politico.
US officials are increasingly concerned that the current proposal may fail, just like previous ones, and will not lead to a cessation of hostilities or the release of hostages. Despite public statements suggesting that an agreement is close, officials privately acknowledge that the situation is more complicated.
Negotiations are ongoing, and this week, senior White House adviser on the Middle East Brett McGurk will travel to Cairo to discuss the details of the agreement. However, if Hamas does not agree, it could lead to further escalation of the conflict, including increased violence between Israel and Hezbollah and a possible direct confrontation with Iran.
“We don’t know if Sinwar wants this deal. But if we don’t get the deal there’s a chance that Iran attacks and this escalates into a full-blown confrontation,” said one of the officials familiar with Israel’s stance in the current negotiations.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the proposed agreement "probably the best, maybe the last opportunity" for a ceasefire and hostage release. However, the differences between Hamas and Israel, as well as the lack of a clear path to compromise, pose serious risks to a peaceful settlement.
If an agreement is not reached, there is a growing likelihood that Tehran, which has been signaling its readiness to attack Israel for several weeks, will follow through on its threats. This could lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran, which the United States and its allies have been trying to avoid since the conflict began on October 7.
War in Gaza Strip
The war began on October 7 of last year with an invasion by Hamas militants into Israeli territory, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of around 250 hostages.
In July, Hamas initially approved a US-proposed plan for a phased ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, abandoning its key demand for a complete cessation of the war by Israel.
