Proposed Gaza Agreement Faces Uncertainty
A new proposal,brokered by the United States,aims to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza.The plan, presented to Hamas, would allow Palestinian civilians who wish to leave Gaza to do so with the assurance of being able to return. hamas members who “commit to peaceful coexistence” would receive amnesty, and those wishing to depart would be granted safe passage.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has a history of close relations with former U.S. President donald Trump, stated the proposal achieves “our war aims” and represents “a critical step towards both ending the war in Gaza and setting the stage for dramatically advancing peace in the Middle East.” Though, Netanyahu also warned that Israel is prepared to act unilaterally if hamas rejects the plan or fails to adhere to it’s terms, stating, “This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way. But it will be done.”
Several Arab nations – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt – have jointly endorsed the plan, expressing their readiness to “cooperate positively and constructively” with the U.S. and other involved parties to facilitate its implementation. These countries also affirmed their commitment to working towards a extensive agreement leading to a “just peace process based on the two-state solution.”
The palestinian Authority, which governed Gaza prior to Hamas’s victory in the 2006 elections and currently oversees the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has also welcomed the agreement.
Hamas has received the proposal and is currently reviewing its details.
The plan, as currently outlined, lacks specific details and appears to fall short of key demands Hamas has consistently made throughout over a year of negotiations, including a complete cessation of hostilities, a full Israeli withdrawal, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. It offers only a vague acknowledgement of Palestinian self-determination and statehood as an “aspiration,” contingent upon the prosperous implementation of reforms within the Palestinian Authority and the redevelopment of Gaza.
netanyahu has repeatedly stated his opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state, a position contrasted by recent actions from the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, which have all recognized a Palestinian state this month.
In a related development, Netanyahu formally apologized to Qatar for a recent Israeli missile strike in Doha that unintentionally resulted in the death of a Qatari serviceman. The White House confirmed Netanyahu expressed “deep regret” for the incident, acknowledging a violation of Qatari sovereignty during an attempt to target Hamas leadership during hostage negotiations, and affirmed that Israel would not repeat such an action.
The current conflict began on October 7, 2023, with a Hamas attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, two-thirds of whom were civilians, and the abduction of 251 others. Israel responded with a military offensive in Gaza that, according to Gaza health authorities and aid groups, has resulted in over 66,000 fatalities, the vast majority of whom are civilians.
