In the ongoing peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas, international pressure, economic boycotts, and a divided cabinet in Israel have played a significant role in pushing the country towards considering a truce with the Palestinian resistance [6c6e0b64]. Shabnam Palesa Mohamed, a South African human rights activist, journalist, and lawyer, highlighted Israel's intention to colonize Gaza and exploit its offshore gas as a driving factor for any ceasefire deal [6c6e0b64]. Osama Hamdan, the senior Hamas representative in Lebanon, rejected the US-drafted and UN-endorsed ceasefire proposal, stating that Palestinians will decide their own future [6c6e0b64]. Mohamed also mentioned that Israel's pretense of being interested in a ceasefire is a cover for the country to procure more weapons from the US military-industrial complex [6c6e0b64]. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza is described as genocide rooted in geopolitical and socio-economic factors [6c6e0b64]. Since October 7, 2023, over 41,000 people in Gaza, mostly children and women, have been killed by Israeli forces [7cccf184]. Mohamed emphasized the need to address horrifying breaches of international law and called for peace through diplomacy, dialogue, and mediation [6c6e0b64].
Despite the ongoing conflict, mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach a deal to free Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip are due to restart next week [d6aaa8f4]. The decision to restart the talks came after the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency met with the head of the CIA and the prime minister of Qatar, which has been a mediator [d6aaa8f4]. The negotiations will be led by mediators Egypt and Qatar, with active U.S. involvement [d6aaa8f4].
In a recent development, U.S. officials have expressed skepticism about the likelihood of a ceasefire deal being reached before President Joe Biden leaves office in January 2025. This assessment comes from unnamed officials within the White House, State Department, and Pentagon [7cccf184]. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh stated that the deal is not falling apart, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that 90% of a ceasefire deal was agreed upon two weeks prior [7cccf184]. Obstacles to finalizing the agreement include Israel's demand to maintain military forces in the Philadelphi corridor and the complexities surrounding the exchange of hostages [7cccf184].
The U.S. has called for urgency in finalizing a truce agreement following the deaths of six Israeli hostages. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller emphasized the need for a deal to bring home the remaining hostages, while White House national security spokesman John Kirby stated that Hamas is responsible for the captives' deaths [b26e2ff3]. The U.S. is working closely with Egypt and Qatar to negotiate a ceasefire-for-hostages deal, which has become increasingly critical as the situation escalates [b26e2ff3].
Adding to the urgency, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on September 16, 2024, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize a Gaza truce deal. Lapid emphasized the importance of securing the release of hostages for Israel's existence and called for political interests to be set aside [757f1928]. He described Hamas as a 'terrible organization' but insisted on the necessity of making more efforts to secure a hostage deal [757f1928].
The U.S. President Joe Biden had previously proposed a ceasefire plan on May 31, 2024, which includes a three-phase ceasefire and the release of captives. However, Netanyahu has rejected U.S. claims that a deal is close, insisting on maintaining an Israeli military presence on the Egypt-Gaza border, which has caused tensions with Egypt, a key mediator [757f1928]. The Philadelphi Corridor and hostage release details remain major sticking points in the negotiations, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller [757f1928].
The outcome of the peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas will have significant implications for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the prospects for peace in the region [9ace56d3] [93ef4966]. The conflict in Gaza has drawn attention to the potential for a peace deal brokered by Egypt to set a blueprint for the future of the Middle East [e6b78ab1]. The proposed deal, which involves Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, includes a 40-day cessation of hostilities, the release of Israeli hostages, the return of civilians to their homes, and talks for a prolonged ceasefire and rebuilding of Gaza [e6b78ab1]. Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza, is considering the deal but wants Israel to commit to never returning to Gaza, which Israel is not willing to agree to [e6b78ab1]. The article also highlights the diplomatic efforts of the US, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf states in the region, as well as the potential for a new security architecture in the Middle East [e6b78ab1]. The US is discussing the possibility of an Arab-led peacekeeping force to replace Israeli forces in Gaza, and Saudi Arabia is key in the US plan for a post-Gaza war Middle East [e6b78ab1]. The article also discusses the political pressures on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire deal and the challenges to the two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict [e6b78ab1]. Overall, the article provides insights into the current diplomatic landscape and the potential for a resolution to the conflict in Gaza [e6b78ab1].
Meanwhile, peacebuilding efforts are also taking place on a smaller scale. Amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests, some American universities are choosing peace over confrontation [389fa6ef]. Northwestern and Brown universities have been working with protestors to prevent conflict and promote dialogue [389fa6ef]. These agreements demonstrate the potential effectiveness of smaller-scale, bottom-up peacebuilding [389fa6ef].
The situation in Gaza is described as 'devastating' with homes, hospitals, schools, universities, agriculture, and the economy all affected [646d090a]. The bombings continue despite the response to the ceasefire proposal [646d090a].
Negotiations to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza war will resume in Doha on Wednesday. The talks will see the participation of intelligence chiefs from Egypt, the United States, and Israel. Egypt's security delegation, led by intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, aims to mediate between Hamas and Israel to reach a truce [191d8fa2].
Israel has sent an updated proposal for a ceasefire deal in Gaza to the United States. The details of the proposal have not been disclosed, but it is aimed at ending the hostilities and restoring calm in the region [5d4cc16c].