I am trying to understand the Israeli and Hamas decisions regarding the latest proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal. Up front, both sides announced that they accepted the deal that’s on the table.
Israel boasted that they accept the deal and they are waiting for Hamas’s response. Hamas announced with all of the glory that they accept the deal, but expect Israel to reject it. Hamas included in their announcement that they expect a ceasefire that will last 7 years and that the US would guarantee the full implementation of the deal by Israel including ending the war and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, similar to last deal that was breached by Israel. Witkoff and Israel announced that Hamas added the seven-year ceasefire and the US guarantees which according to Witkoff “set us all backwards”.
Hamas announced that Israel made tens of amendments to the deal on the table. This is one of the problems of negotiations through a third-party as opposed to direct negotiations. It is also a reflection that both sides have entirely contradictory goals in the negotiations. And as such, it is evident that Israel and Hamas perceive the deal on the table in very different ways. I heard from one of the mediators that the problem remains Hamas’s demand that the war come to an end and that Israel will withdraw totally from Gaza and Israel’s refusal to end the war and withdraw from Gaza. But there are even different interpretations on the issue of humanitarian aid and the modalities for their supply to the people of Gaza. So, unless something happens quickly, it seems that there is no breakthrough and no deal on the table. The war will continue. More Gazans will die, combatants and many non-combatants, more destruction of the very little that is left of Gaza will occur from continued Israeli bombing.
More Israeli soldiers are likely to be killed as well. Hostages may also die or be killed. The suffering and trauma will continue for both peoples. This is tragic. The only way that this war will come to an end and all of the hostages will come home, and Palestinian prisoners will be released – some who are also hostages, is if President Trump instructs Netanyahu to end the war and make a deal. Until then, it seems there is no real deal on the table and continued negotiations are exercises in futility.
