Ceasefire Talks Collapse, Israel Approves Gaza City Occupation Plan
Gaza City – August 8, 2024 – Hopes for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas have suffered a significant setback, culminating today with Israel’s security cabinet approving a plan for the occupation of Gaza City. This decision follows weeks of stalled negotiations, punctuated by reciprocal withdrawals from talks and escalating rhetoric from both sides, raising fears of a broadened and intensified military operation.
The breakdown in negotiations began in late July, despite initial optimism following Hamas’s submission of a counterproposal too previous ceasefire frameworks mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. On July 25th, Israeli Prime Minister benjamin Netanyahu publicly affirmed his support for US envoy Amos Hochstein‘s assessment that “option options” needed to be considered, signaling growing dissatisfaction with the progress of the talks. Hochstein had been actively involved in shuttle diplomacy between regional capitals, attempting to bridge the gap between Israeli demands and Hamas’s conditions.
A source with direct knowledge of the negotiations described the US and Israeli pullback as “an earthquake,” though a senior Israeli official attempted to downplay the severity, stating talks had “not at all” collapsed, contingent on Hamas revising it’s demands regarding the number of prisoners to be released in exchange for hostages. The core sticking point remained the phased release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails – numbering over 7,000, according to the Palestinian prisoner Society – versus Hamas’s guarantee of the remaining approximately 128 hostages held in Gaza since the october 7th attacks.
Further complicating matters, former US President Donald Trump publicly blamed Hamas for the breakdown on July 27th, alleging the group feared its own demise should it return all captives. Concurrently, Hamas cited the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, particularly widespread starvation affecting the enclave’s 2.3 million residents, as a reason to halt negotiations under current conditions. Reports from the UN’s World Food Program and UNICEF have consistently highlighted the critical lack of access to food, water, and medical supplies within Gaza, exacerbated by restrictions on aid deliveries.
By July 31st, Hamas ceased all engagement in ceasefire and hostage release discussions, though publicly maintained a commitment to negotiations contingent on improved humanitarian conditions.Two sources familiar with the matter confirmed this cessation to CNN. Concurrently,a senior Israeli official indicated a shift in strategy,revealing a developing “new understanding” between Israel and the United states regarding Gaza.This shift became clearer on August 4th, when an Israeli official stated that Prime Minister Netanyahu was prioritizing the release of hostages through military means – specifically, the defeat of Hamas. The official accused Hamas of refusing to participate in “meaningful negotiations.”
The culmination of these developments arrived today with the Israeli security cabinet’s approval of a plan to occupy Gaza City. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the decision, signaling a potential escalation of the conflict beyond the current airstrikes and limited ground incursions. The plan’s specifics remain largely undisclosed, but analysts anticipate a complex and possibly protracted urban warfare scenario within the densely populated city, raising significant concerns about civilian casualties.
Background: The current conflict stems from the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of over 240 hostages. Israel responded with a sustained military campaign in Gaza, resulting in over 37,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza health Ministry, and widespread destruction of infrastructure. International efforts to broker a ceasefire have been ongoing as November 2023, with Qatar playing a central role in mediating between the parties. The current impasse casts doubt on the prospects for a near-term resolution and raises the specter of a prolonged and devastating conflict.
