Situation at a glance - New hope for ceasefire in Gaza war
In the midst of the intensifying conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, there is new hope for a ceasefire in the Gaza War. A "breakthrough" has been achieved at a point where the negotiations have been stuck, said a US government representative. "What we have gotten back from Hamas is a fairly clear adjustment of their position, and that is encouraging." The Islamist organization reportedly submitted a proposal to the mediators, the US, Qatar, and Egypt, on Wednesday, which, in their own words, contains "some ideas."
Report: Hamas backs down
The Hamas now no longer demands a full withdrawal of Israeli troops during the first phase of the three-stage plan that US President Joe Biden presented in May, according to the "Wall Street Journal," citing an Israeli government official. The first phase involves the release of some hostages during a six-week ceasefire.
The official stressed to the newspaper that the indirect negotiations are still difficult. The US news portal "Axios" quoted an Israeli official, stating that it could take up to two or three weeks until a possible deal is reached.
"We expect that this agreement will lead to a permanent ceasefire," said the US government representative. According to Israeli media, the indirect negotiations are taking place today in Doha. Yesterday, Israel's Security Cabinet discussed the mandate for its delegation, led by the head of the foreign intelligence service Mossad, David Barnea. US President Biden welcomed the decision of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to send a negotiating team.
Netanyahu confirms his goals
The crucial point is that Hamas' response "flexibility" includes allowing both sides to enter the first phase of the agreement - with the risk that the next phase may not materialize, according to "Axios" Israeli officials. According to the plan, the second phase involves the permanent cessation of fighting and the release of the remaining hostages. In the tightly sealed coastal strip, around 120 hostages are believed to be held, many of whom may no longer be alive.
Netanyahu confirmed in a call with Biden that the war will only end when Israel has achieved all its goals, including the dismantling of Hamas and the release of all hostages. He recently hinted that the larger Hamas commands in southern Gaza would soon be dismantled. With that, at least the large-scale ground offensive could end, although it would not mark the end of the military campaign in Gaza.
Israel focuses its attention increasingly on its border with Lebanon. Hezbollah, Israel's arch-enemy, supported by Iran, fired more than 200 rockets and 20 drones at Israel in response to the killing of a senior commander. An Israeli reservist in the rank of Major was killed, the Israeli military reported.
Biden pledges support to Israel
Hezbollah will only stop firing at Israel when there is a ceasefire in Gaza. They act out of solidarity with Hamas.
President Biden reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to Israel's security, even in the face of threats from Iran-backed terrorist groups like Lebanese Hezbollah, according to the White House after Biden's conversation with Netanyahu. For July 15, a meeting of Biden and Netanyahu's top advisors is planned, it was stated.
An agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in the Gaza War could be the most effective means of preventing a conflagration in the Middle East, wrote the "Wall Street Journal." Israel and Hezbollah have been engaging in near-daily battles since the start of the Gaza War, with the intensity of these clashes significantly increasing recently. There is concern that these combat operations could escalate into a regional conflict, one that could potentially draw in the US and Iran.
Iran is not only allied with Hezbollah and Hamas but also with non-state actors in Iraq and Yemen. Syria is Tehran's only strategic partner on a governmental level.
Israel approves thousands of housing units in the West Bank
Israel's Military Administration has approved the construction of 5,295 housing units in the West Bank. Additionally, three settlement outposts are to be legalized, as reported by the human rights organization Peace Now. The corresponding decisions were made by the High Planning Council, a committee of the Military Administration for the West Bank. Already the previous week, the Israeli occupation authorities had decided on the legalization of five outposts.
According to international law, any settlement activity in militarily occupied territories is illegal. Israeli law also deems the settlements illegal, but they are occasionally retroactively legalized. Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967. Today, there are approximately three million Palestinians living among the 700,000 Israeli settlers in these areas. In 1993, according to Peace Now, there were still only 250,000 settlers.
- Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, approved the construction of 5,295 housing units in the West Bank, despite international and Israeli law considering settlement activity in militarily occupied territories illegal.
- In response to the killing of a senior commander, Hezbollah, backed by Iran, launched more than 200 rockets and 20 drones towards Israel, leading to increased tension between the two nations.
- President Joe Biden pledged his ironclad commitment to Israel's security in the face of threats from Iran-backed terrorist groups like Hezbollah, reassuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of US support.
- The Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, have shown signs of progress, with Hamas reportedly submitting a proposal containing "some ideas."
- The first phase of the three-stage plan presented by President Joe Biden involves the release of some hostages during a six-week ceasefire, but the US government official stressed that indirect negotiations are still difficult.
- The US government representative expressed hope that the agreement reached in the negotiations would lead to a permanent ceasefire, aligning with the stance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who confirmed his goals include the dismantling of Hamas and the release of all hostages.
- David Barnea, the head of the foreign intelligence service Mossad, led Israel's delegation in the indirect negotiations taking place in Doha, a decision supported by US President Joe Biden.
- Iran is not only allied with Hezbollah and Hamas but also with non-state actors in Iraq and Yemen, making a regional conflict involving the US and Iran a significant concern.
- In the midst of the intensifying conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia, the "Wall Street Journal" reported that Hamas had backed down from demanding a full withdrawal of Israeli troops during the first phase of the agreement.
- An Israeli reservist was killed in the escalation of battles between Israel and Hezbollah, with both nations engaging in near-daily battles in the Gaza War, causing international concern for a potential wider regional conflict.
- The US news portal "Axios" cited an Israeli official, stating that indirect negotiations for a possible deal in the Gaza War could take up to two or three weeks, depending on Hamas' response flexibility.
- Harakat el-Mukawame el-Islamije, an Islamic Jihad group, has also been involved in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with Israeli media reporting that the indirect negotiations discussing a potential ceasefire also include Egypt and the US President's advisors.