The outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed confidence that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will go into effect on Sunday. Blinken said diplomats were in the process of tying up what he called a loose end. But Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened to resign from the coalition government if Israel’s cabinet approves the deal. The cabinet must agree to the deal before the cessation of hostilities can take effect. A cabinet vote on the deal was originally scheduled for Thursday, but has since been postponed.
Gershon Baskin shares his ideas why Israel should’ve accepted deal months earlier in May 2024.
Chapter Breakdown:
0:00 Far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatens to leave coalition over ceasefire
0:58 Reactions to proposed ceasefire in Gaza and in Israel
3:26 Daniel Levy, former Israeli peace negotiator and former adviser to Israeli government on Netanyahu stalling ceasefire deal for months
11:42 Gershon Baskin, Israeli peace activist and former hostage negotiator on why Israel should’ve accepted deal months earlier in May 2024
20:52 Jolien Veldwijk, CARE Palestine Country Director, on continuation of Israeli strikes in Gaza
26:47 Konstantin Eggert, DW Correspondent in Jerusalem, on imminent deal’s expected success despite Ben-Gvir’s threats to leave
30:41 Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, Gaza analyst and Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, on failures to establish contingency plans for the “Day After”
