Middle East CrisisStatements From Netanyahu and Hamas Narrow Hopes for a Truce in Gaza
Despite the setbacks, negotiations over a possible cease-fire deal continue in Cairo.
Prospects for a truce in Gaza diminished on Monday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas issued statements that reduced the likelihood of reaching an agreement on the region’s future.
Netanyahu stated on Sunday night that he would only accept a deal allowing Israel to keep fighting until all war objectives are met, emphasizing the need to eliminate Hamas’ military and governing capabilities.
Hamas, opposing a temporary cease-fire, warned on Monday that Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza could reset negotiations back to square one.
Netanyahu’s insistence on resuming fighting faced criticism in Israel on Monday, with calls for a cease-fire deal that includes freeing some Israeli captives held in Gaza.
The prime minister’s coalition relies on ultranationalist support against a permanent truce, sparking accusations of prioritizing personal interests over national welfare.
While Netanyahu argues for Hamas’ complete defeat as vital for Israel, others prioritize freeing hostages and suggest his motivations are to prevent government collapse.
Debates surrounding Netanyahu’s leadership have deepened since his decision to stay in politics amid corruption charges in 2020, fueling political divisions and instability in Israel.
The military believes a cease-fire is key to swiftly securing the release of around 120 Israelis held in Gaza, a sentiment echoed by a majority of Israelis who view hostage return as a top priority over continued conflict with Hamas.An Israeli soldier was seen guiding a tank in southern Israel near the Gaza border on Monday. Negotiations for a deal continued in Cairo, with Ronen Bar from Israel’s domestic intelligence agency leading talks mediated by Egypt. Further discussions are planned in Qatar later this week as another mediator between Israel and Hamas. Some officials and analysts suggest that statements from both Netanyahu and Hamas may be strategic moves to negotiate better terms rather than outright rejection of the process.
Apart from agreeing on the duration of the cease-fire, both sides must also settle on the number and identities of Palestinian prisoners to be exchanged for hostages. Additionally, they need to decide on the extent of Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza; Hamas wants a complete withdrawal while Israel aims to maintain control over certain captured areas.
After unsuccessful negotiations for months, hopes for a deal were revived when reports indicated Hamas was more flexible on key issues, prompting Netanyahu to send negotiators to Qatar. However, Netanyahu’s political standing relies on far-right parties opposed to any agreement leaving Hamas in power in Gaza. Critics argue this reluctance stems from fear of jeopardizing his coalition and facing potential early elections he might lose. Netanyahu is currently facing corruption charges and risking his political future if he loses power again.
According to biographer Ben Caspit, Netanyahu prioritizes his coalition’s stability over a hostage deal, suggesting he may want hostages released but not at the cost of his government’s survival. A prominent minister in Netanyahu’s coalition, Bezalel Smotrich, hinted on social media that his party could withdraw from the coalition if Netanyahu agrees to a deal keeping Hamas in power in Gaza, emphasizing their refusal to surrender to Hamas.Mr. Smotrich stated that this agreement is a significant loss and embarrassment for Israel.
Some experts speculate that Mr. Netanyahu might not personally object to the deal but is aiming to increase its likelihood of success by postponing it until the end of July, when Parliament goes on break.
By waiting until Parliament is not in session, it would be more challenging for lawmakers to overthrow the government, giving Mr. Netanyahu more flexibility to negotiate a deal that his coalition partners may oppose, as noted by Nadav Shtrauchler, a former strategist for the prime minister.
Shtrauchler mentioned that Mr. Netanyahu is trying to create space for negotiation, which requires time.
Mr. Netanyahu could also be employing tough negotiation tactics to push Hamas into making greater concessions. The ongoing military operation in Rafah weakens Hamass position, potentially leading to better terms for Israel.
Yair Lapid, the opposition leader, believes that Mr. Netanyahus reluctance to swiftly reach a deal is primarily politically motivated. Lapid has offered to support the prime minister if the government collapses due to the hostage situation.
Lapid assured that he would provide a safety net for Mr. Netanyahu, but analysts and allies of the prime minister doubt Lapid’s sincerity and believe he may not follow through with his offer.
Mr. Netanyahu has not responded to Lapids proposal yet, with indications suggesting he is hesitant to accept it due to concerns about Lapids true intentions and reliability.
A departing Israeli general condemns violence by Jewish settlers in the West Bank, and other news.
Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fuks, the outgoing head of Israels Central Command, criticized the increasing nationalist crimes committed by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank and expressed disappointment in the Israeli government’s actions to weaken the Palestinian Authority financially. He emphasized the importance of a strong Palestinian Authority for Israel’s security and denounced the violence by settlers in the region, which is home to around 2.7 million Palestinians. Fuks stated that a small extremist group was damaging Israel’s global reputation and stated that such actions do not align with his understanding of Judaism based on his upbringing. He highlighted that this behavior goes against the teachings of the Torah.
William Burns, the Director of the CIA, traveled to Cairo for discussions regarding a cease-fire proposal between Israel and Hamas, along with Brett McGurk, the White House’s Middle East coordinator. The White House’s national security communications adviser, John F. Kirby, mentioned that although both Israel and Hamas have indicated a standstill in the latest proposal, blaming each other, efforts are being made to bridge the gaps. Kirby stated during a White House briefing that the Biden administration sent Burns and McGurk for negotiations because they believe there is a possibility of success. Regarding the differing public comments from Israel and Hamas about the cease-fire proposal, Kirby noted that private conversations are more constructive than what is publicly stated.The Israeli military announced on Monday that its troops had reentered the Shajaiye neighborhood in Gaza City, a location that has been repeatedly targeted during the conflict. The military stated that they conducted a raid to destroy a Hamas command and control center in Shajaiye, which was found within repurposed schools and a clinic. They reported discovering mortars, machine guns, grenades, Hamas intelligence documents, as well as equipment and UNRWA school uniforms at the site. Shajaiye has been a site of intense fighting throughout the war, with significant casualties on both sides.
In a separate incident, a cross-border attack by Hezbollah from Lebanon resulted in the injury of a 31-year-old U.S. citizen in Israel. The man, who is not affiliated with the U.S. government, reportedly suffered worsening health conditions following the attack. Tensions have been escalating between Israel and Hezbollah through such cross-border strikes, raising fears of further conflicts.
Furthermore, the Canadian government expressed strong disapproval of Israel’s decision to legalize five Jewish outposts in the West Bank and to undermine the Palestinian Authority financially. Canada called on Israel to reverse these actions and avoid exacerbating the situation.
The Israeli military returned to an area of Gaza City where it said Hamas had re-established itself.
The Israeli military initiated a new ground operation in Gaza City overnight, targeting areas where Hamas militants have reportedly re-established themselves. Palestinian news outlets reported intense bombardment and the presence of Israeli troops, leading to the evacuation of thousands of Palestinians from the area.
The military stated that the ground operation was based on intelligence indicating the presence of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist infrastructure, operatives, weapons, and detention facilities. The operation also encompassed the headquarters of the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees, although the agency had vacated the premises earlier.
Israeli forces have revisited parts of Gaza previously left, particularly in the north, where they had intervened in October. Despite efforts to transition into a less intense phase of the conflict, Israel continues to face challenges in eradicating Hamas, which orchestrated the initial attacks in October.
The military emphasized that it had alerted civilians about the operation and provided a designated route for their evacuation. Reports indicated a significant number of Palestinians fleeing towards northwestern neighborhoods of Gaza City due to heavy Israeli military presence and airstrikes causing casualties.
Residents described a sudden onset of various strikes, including tank shelling, artillery fire, and aerial bombardment. Calls and messages from the Israeli military urging evacuation were received after the attacks had commenced, leaving many residents scrambling to seek safety.Mr. Saleh mentioned that he was able to take a bag containing important documents and some clothes before leaving with his family, including his 70-year-old mother whose wheelchair broke due to the damaged roads during their escape.
After finding another wheelchair, they walked for an additional hour amidst ongoing attacks until they reached Mr. Saleh’s sister’s house located outside the evacuation area.
During their escape, Mr. Saleh witnessed numerous casualties and injured individuals in his neighborhood. He advised people to head west, but many had to go east to gather their belongings and rescue their families, resulting in some being trapped in the bombings without any means of assistance.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that their emergency teams successfully evacuated around 30 wounded individuals from a hospital in the Rimal neighborhood to the Indonesian Hospital situated beyond the evacuation zone.
