Hamas seeks ceasefire amid escalating Middle East tensions

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is reportedly seeking a ceasefire deal, according to messages conveyed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators to Israeli officials in recent days, ahead of a critical summit later this week, an Israeli source familiar with the matter said.

However, it remains uncertain whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is inclined to pursue such a deal.

While Netanyahu’s allies have told journalists and government officials that he is prepared to make a deal, even at the risk of straining his governing coalition, two Israeli sources noted that the Israeli security establishment remains skeptical of Netanyahu’s willingness to strike an agreement, given the strong opposition from far-right ministers within his coalition.

Yahya Sinwar, who has been named the political leader of Hamas, is facing mounting pressure, particularly from the United States, to agree to a ceasefire and hostage release deal this week.

Despite the mediators’ assertion that Sinwar is open to a deal, Hamas on Sunday expressed doubts about its participation in the upcoming ceasefire negotiations, scheduled for Thursday. Hamas has requested that mediators implement a ceasefire plan based on previous agreements, such as those proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden and the UN Security Council in July.

“Out of concern and responsibility towards our people and their interests, the movement demands that the mediators present a plan to implement what they presented to the movement and agreed upon on July 2, 2024, based on Biden’s vision and the UN Security Council resolution, and to compel the occupation to do so, instead of pursuing further negotiation rounds or new proposals,” the Hamas statement reads.

Hamas indicated that its stance was influenced by an Israeli attack on a Gaza school on Saturday, which killed at least 93 people, according to local officials.

U.S. officials have urged their Israeli counterparts to seize this opportunity to reach a ceasefire deal, warning that failure to do so could risk a wider regional war, according to the Israeli source.

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, a prominent group in Israel, has also called on both Israel and Hamas to finalize a ceasefire and hostage deal.

“A deal is the only path to bring all hostages home. Time is running out. The hostages have no more to spare. A deal must be signed now!” the forum stated on Thursday.

However, Netanyahu’s coalition partners remain opposed to any deal with Hamas. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich labeled the proposed ceasefire a “surrender deal” on Friday. On social media platform X, Smotrich wrote: “I call on the Prime Minister not to fall into this trap and not to agree to even the slightest deviation from the red lines he set recently, which are already problematic.”

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby dismissed Smotrich’s remarks, stating that “his arguments are dead wrong.”

Netanyahu’s political future hinges on the support of his coalition partners, many of whom have threatened to leave the government and cause its collapse if he agrees to the deal.

Although the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) is currently out of session for its summer recess, which could complicate attempts by Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to bring down the government, Israeli sources have indicated that Netanyahu might call for elections if a ceasefire deal is reached, allowing him to control the timing of the vote.

Ongoing Negotiations

Mediators are set to meet with Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams in Cairo or Doha this week, though negotiations are already in progress, with technical delegations working “around the clock” on key details ahead of Thursday’s meeting, according to the Israeli source.

These talks come at a highly tense time in the Middle East. Recent high-profile assassinations in Lebanon and Iran have raised fears of retaliation that could spark a wider conflict.

Last month, Israel killed Fu’ad Shukr, the top military commander of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group. The following day, Israel is widely believed to have assassinated Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which was seen as a significant embarrassment for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who were hosting Haniyeh.

Iran’s response to Israel might be reconsidered in terms of scale and timing if a ceasefire is reached in Gaza, a possibility that has added pressure on Israel to secure a deal to prevent the risk of an all-out regional war.

Sinwar, believed to be one of the masterminds behind the deadly October 7 terror attack, has been named the new head of Hamas’ political bureau following Haniyeh’s assassination. He has not been seen in public since October 7 and is thought to be hiding in Gaza’s extensive tunnel network. While Haniyeh played a significant role in ceasefire negotiations, Sinwar’s involvement has been more limited due to the challenges he faces in communicating with the outside world.

The talks follow an Israeli strike on a school and mosque compound that killed dozens, triggering international outrage. Israel claimed it was targeting a Hamas command center and had killed several fighters.

In response, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president, stated on Saturday that “far too many” civilians have been killed in Gaza, emphasizing that a deal “needs to get done now.”

Credit: CNN