Background on Key Players and Context
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamás in Gaza has seen occasional indirect dialogues, resulting in brief truces and the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. However, a lasting ceasefire has yet to be achieved.
Israel’s current stance is led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who adheres to the principle of releasing “all hostages” as part of an end-to-war strategy. This position has been supported by some Israeli ministers, while others from the far-right faction have warned against any concessions to Hamás.
Hamás’ Acceptance of a New Proposed Truce
On Tuesday, Hamás accepted a new truce proposal that includes the return of hostages in two stages and an initial 60-day ceasefire. This proposal was brokered by mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.
Qatari officials expressed optimism about this new proposal, stating it is “almost identical” to the previous version accepted by Israel. However, an Israeli government official confirmed that Israel’s policy remains unchanged and continues to demand the release of “all hostages”.
Reactions from Israeli Political Figures
Some Israeli ministers from the far-right, such as Itamar Ben Gvir (Minister of National Security), have warned against any concessions to Hamás, viewing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s potential agreement as a “tragedy.”
Basem Naim, a member of Hamás’ political committee, criticized what he called the “malicious intentions” of Netanyahu to prolong the war, genocide, and ethnic cleansing on Facebook.
Conflict’s Origin and Casualties
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamás attacked Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,219 people—mostly civilians—and the abduction of 251 hostages, including 49 still held in Gaza with 27 fatalities, according to the Israeli military.
In Gaza, retaliatory actions by Israel have led to the deaths of approximately 62,064 people—mostly civilians—as reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry, a source deemed reliable by the United Nations.
“We Are Being Shot At”
As negotiations unfold, the Israeli military aims to regain control over Gaza City and neighboring refugee camps, intending to dismantle Hamás’ military capabilities and free all hostages.
The Gaza Civil Defense reported at least 48 fatalities across the enclave due to Israeli bombardments in Zeitún and Al Sabra neighborhoods.
Residents like Husein al Dairi described continuous explosions and attacks from tanks, artillery, and drones.
The Israeli military stated it was “operating to dismantle Hamás’ military capabilities” while taking “reasonable precautions to minimize harm to civilians.”
According to the Israeli news portal Walla, citing a military expert, Division 99 is close to capturing Zeitún, with Al Sabra being the next target.
Since the war’s onset, Israel has besieged Gaza and its over two million Palestinian residents, threatening them with “generalized starvation,” as described by the United Nations.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Israel’s current position on the truce negotiations? Israel insists on the release of “all hostages” as a condition for agreeing to a truce.
- Who are the mediators in this conflict? Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are working as mediators between Israel and Hamás.
- What does the new truce proposal entail? The proposal includes an initial 60-day ceasefire and the return of hostages in two stages.
- How have Israeli political figures responded to the truce proposal? Some right-wing ministers have warned against concessions to Hamás, while others support the release of hostages.
- What sparked the current conflict between Israel and Hamás? The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamás attacked Israel.
- What are the reported casualties on both sides? Over 1,200 people (mostly civilians) have died in Israel, and approximately 62,064 people (mostly civilians) have died in Gaza.
