Ceasefire hopes dim as Hamas rejects US-Led negotiations amid Israel-Gaza conflict

Hamas has dismissed suggestions of progress on an Israel-Gaza ceasefire deal as an illusion, following US President Joe Biden’s expression of optimism. After two days of US-backed talks in Qatar, President Biden said on Friday that “we are closer than we have ever been” to a ceasefire. However, a senior Hamas official told the BBC that no real progress had been made, accusing mediators of “selling illusions.”

Israel acknowledged the efforts of the US and other mediators but expressed frustration with Hamas’s refusal to agree to a hostage release deal. The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza after an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. Since then, over 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

A ceasefire deal in November led to the release of 105 hostages by Hamas in exchange for a week-long ceasefire and the freeing of around 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Israel reports that 111 hostages remain in captivity, with 39 presumed dead.

In a recent joint statement, the US, Qatar, and Egypt said they had presented a proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release that “narrows the gaps” between Israel and Hamas. Israel insists that any ceasefire must include the release of the remaining hostages. With ten months of war and thousands of casualties, there is immense pressure for a breakthrough, and the situation risks escalating into a wider regional conflict if negotiations collapse.

Mediators described the past two days of ceasefire discussions as “serious, constructive, and conducted in a positive atmosphere,” with technical teams expected to continue working on the details in the coming days. Senior government officials are set to meet again in Cairo to finalize the terms. While the mediators’ statement suggests positive developments, a ceasefire agreement is still far from certain.

This is not the first time President Biden has expressed optimism about a deal, but neither Hamas nor the Israeli government shares his upbeat outlook. Israel maintains that its position and core principles remain unchanged and accused Hamas of refusing to agree to a hostage release. Israelis, while eager for the hostages’ release, are skeptical that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s primary goal is anything other than a “total victory” over Hamas. Meanwhile, Hamas’s new leader, Yahya Sinwar, has shown little sign of compromise.

Asked about President Biden’s statement, a senior Hamas official described the mediators’ proposals as “very disappointing,” asserting that no progress had been made. Gazans, already struggling with a severe hunger crisis, now face the additional threat of a polio epidemic.

Hamas has reportedly dropped its demand for a permanent ceasefire in favor of President Biden’s proposal for a six-week pause, during which a permanent end to the conflict could be negotiated. Biden’s proposal includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, the staggered release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and the return of deceased hostages’ remains.

The “bridging proposal” put forward by US, Egyptian, and Qatari negotiators will be the focus of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s negotiations in the region and is expected to be the basis for the next round of talks in Cairo. This proposal reportedly “closes the remaining gaps” between the two sides, potentially paving the way for a rapid implementation of the agreement.

However, significant obstacles remain, and there is still a profound lack of trust between senior Israeli and Hamas officials. Both sides are being pushed to the negotiating table, perhaps reluctantly, by external forces concerned about the consequences of failure.

Hamas and its allies suspect that the US is trying to buy more time. If Iran were to attack Israel, it would appear as though Hamas had undermined the negotiations. Hamas is open about its desire for Iran and Hezbollah to attack Israel, hoping that a strong blow against Israel would weaken Netanyahu and force him into a deal.

President Biden, for his part, has warned that “no one in the region should take actions to undermine this process.”

Meanwhile, Israel’s military operation in Gaza continues, with an airstrike in the early hours of Saturday morning reportedly killing 15 people in the al-Zawaida neighborhood of central Gaza, according to the Palestinian civil defense authority. Among the dead were nine children and three women, according to spokesperson Mahmud Bassal. The Israeli Defense Forces confirmed they had “eliminated a number of terrorists” in central Gaza, including one who had fired at Israeli forces in the area.

The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders for several blocks in northern Khan Younis and Deir Balah, further shrinking the humanitarian zone where thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge from the fighting. Israel claims these areas have become dangerous due to “significant acts of terrorism” and the firing of rockets and mortars towards Israel.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) warned that fear is spreading again as families have nowhere to go. The spread of the polio virus, which can be transmitted through faecal matter, is now a pressing concern within the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in Gaza.

“Let’s be clear: The ultimate vaccine for polio is peace and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said.

Credit: BBC