Just a couple of days following a notable speech from American President Joe Biden, detailing components of an Israeli truce and release of captives agreement, the militant group Hamas hasn’t formally responded till Sunday evening. This has raised suspicions over the approval of the deal by Israel’s conservative government, despite its okaying by a selected group responsible for war decisions.
Hamas officers expressed that the group has a favourable perspective on the accord. However, there is uncertainty about whether the Hamas’s leader, Yahya Sinwar, will support this plan without a guaranteed promise from Israel to cease the war.
Israel’s PM, Binyamin Netanyahu, declared that a lasting peace in Gaza won’t exist until the obliteration of Hamas’s military power and control ability. “The prerequisites for Israel to stop the war remain the same: The annihilation of Hamas’s military might and control ability, the liberation of all captives, and ensuring Gaza no longer threatens Israel,” stated Mr Netanyahu. The concept that Israel will consent to a long-lasting truce prior to meeting these conditions is out of the question, according to him.
Extreme right-leaning parties in Mr Netanyahu’s alliance assured that they would overthrow the administration if Mr Netanyahu concedes to the three-stage arrangement detailed by President Biden. Even members of Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party have publicly shown their disapproval.
Yet, the US White House communicated on Sunday that they predict Israel’s acquiescence to the plan. “This is an Israeli proposal. We anticipate that if Hamas consents to this plan – as has been passed onto them, an Israeli plan – then certainly Israel would agree,” said the White House National Security spokesperson, John Kirby, when speaking to ABC News.
Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog endorsed the deal on Sunday. Citing Jewish tradition, he highlighted the importance of saving captives and hostages, especially when Israeli citizens whom the state were unable to protect were involved.
As per the health ministry in Gaza, run by Hamas, more than 36,400 Palestinians have lost their lives since the onset of the war on 7th October. Israel claimed that on that shocking day of the unexpected Hamas attack, 1,200 people died, and 253 were taken hostage. They state that 125 hostages are yet held captive by Hamas, though the number of the living is uncertain.
Negotiations in Cairo between delegations from America, Egypt and Israel regarding the reopening of the Rafah crossing, between Gaza and Egypt, concluded on Sunday with no substantial development. Egypt reiterated that for the terminal to reopen, Israeli forces must retreat from the Palestinian side of the crossing.
In light of the ongoing conflict in Rafah, Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defence minister, declared on Sunday that Israel is progressively suffocating Hamas by severing its supply paths along the boundary of the Gaza Strip and Egypt and is attempting to establish a substitute governance in the Palestinian territory. Gallant added that besides the significant military action, the defence body is setting up an alternative ruling entity to supersede Hamas.
Mr Gallant also stated plans to partition areas within Gaza, eliminate Hamas affiliates and introduce other forces that would enable an opposing governance that could contest with Hamas.
On Sunday, there was a series of crossfires along the northern boundary of Israel with Lebanon. The pro-Iranian Hizbullah has committed to extending its assaults on Galilee while the Israeli military undertaking in Gaza persists.