Conflict in the Middle East Region - Persistent obstacles loom for Gaza peace agreement in spite of American efforts.
American President Joe Biden is pushing for a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, resulting in mounting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Over 120,000 protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday, demanding an agreement and calling for new elections.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog thanked Biden for his involvement, stating that he had promised Netanyahu and the government "full support for a deal that will lead to the release of hostages." Citing Jewish tradition, he emphasized the importance of returning captives, particularly Israeli civilians who the state could not protect.
The latest negotiations proposals have sparked optimism in Berlin, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz viewing them as potentially ending the war. However, Netanyahu's right-wing religious coalition partners cautioned against agreeing to the deal, claiming it would result in a "victory for terrorism" and a "total defeat" for Israel. Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich both raised concerns.
On Friday, Biden revealed a deal consisting of three phases. The first would enact a complete and unrestricted six-week ceasefire and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from densely populated areas in Gaza. An initial group of hostages, including women, the elderly, and the wounded, would be released. In exchange, hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel would also be freed. In the second phase, hostilities would cease permanently, and the remaining hostages would be liberated. In the final phase, Gaza would be rebuilt.
The context surrounding the offer resonated positively with a Hamas spokesperson in Lebanon. Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas military leader hiding in Gaza's tunnels, has only agreed to an agreement if it guarantees the survival of Hamas as a military and political power in Gaza. Netanyahu maintained that Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed, demanding the destruction of Hamas and the release of all hostages.
Egypt, the United States, and Qatar called for a peace treaty between Israel and Hamas in a joint statement.
Despite Israel's agreement to the proposed accord, there are still numerous unclear details, according to Ophir Falk, foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Netanyahu. Speaking to the British newspaper "The Sunday Times," Falk said, "It's not a good deal, but we absolutely want the hostages to be released, and all of them." Falk further confirmed that Israel's conditions remain the same: the elimination of Hamas and the release of all hostages.
Netanyahu held a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday, during which the latter expressed his support for the US's appeal for Hamas to cease violence and free the hostages, as the Israeli proposal provides a tangible opportunity to end the fighting and hostilities. Despite these developments, Sinwar, who controls Hamas in Gaza and must approve the agreement, believes time is on his side and that the war with Israel is making it an international pariah. Hamas's civilian casualties offer an opportunity to strengthen its political influence in the region.
Biden's proposed agreement lacks information about who will take control of the Gaza Strip after the conflict. If no other agreements are reached, this could inadvertently grant Hamas its desired victory following eight months of war.
An Israeli official informed the "Times of Israel" that Israel has the ability to resume warfare at any moment if Hamas violates the terms of the proposed agreement.
Despite these developments, the prospect of a breakthrough is evident. However, the negotiation's intricate details, including Israel and Hamas's various war goals and political motivations, suggest that overcoming these obstacles may be challenging.
The origins of the conflict can be traced back to a massacre carried out by Hamas and other extremist groups in Israel on October 7, where more than 1200 people were slain and approximately 250 hostages were abducted to Gaza. In response, Israel launched aerial attacks and a land offensive. The Health Ministry under Hamas's control reports over 36,400 deaths; however, this figure does not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants, making independent verification impossible.
Forces supporting an agreement have called for a resolution between Israel and Hamas, urging the release of all captives. Negotiators believe a breakthrough may be achievable, but significant obstacles hamper progress. The final outcome remains uncertain.
All 36 shelters of the United Nations Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA) in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip are now vacant, according to the organization. "Due to Israeli military operations, thousands of families were forced to flee," UNRWA stated on X.
Approximately 1.7 million people have been internally displaced in neighboring cities like Khan Younis and the central area of the Gaza Strip, while around 2.2 million individuals reside in the narrow coastal region. "Humanitarian spaces are being significantly reduced," the UN organization asserted and urged for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Humanitarian groups have cautioned that there is no secure location in Gaza.
Intense clashes between Israel and Hezbollah - Two fatalities in Lebanon
Recurring heavy cross-border hostilities transpired between Israel and Lebanon. The Lebanese news agency stated that two civilians perished in an Israeli airstrike on Hula, a town in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite militia, claimed accountability for an attack on an Israeli military base on the occupied Golan Heights, alleging casualties. Although there was no Israeli confirmation initially, the situation remains in flux.
The Israeli military disclosed that the air force had targeted a Hezbollah military post in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon's interior. Earlier, Hezbollah fired a rocket at an Israeli drone detected flying over Lebanese territory.
Furthermore, the Israeli airforce attacked other Hezbollah installations in Bint Jbeil and command centers in other southern Lebanese towns.
Chile adds support to South Africa's genocide lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice
Chile will support South Africa's legal action against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. "We will never tolerate, under any circumstances, the indiscriminate and utterly disproportionate actions of the Israeli military against innocent civilians, especially Palestinian women and children," Chilean President Gabriel Boric emphasized during a parliamentary speech. Consequently, Chile will "participate and endorse" the lawsuit brought against Israel before the IGH.
Boric condemned the terroristic attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7 in Israel and advocated for the release of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip. "I want to emphasize here that there can be no negotiation or compromise; I will not choose between barbarity." Through a Foreign Ministry statement on the X platform, Chile advocated for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and demanded recognition for two states - Palestine and Israel.
South Africa presented a lawsuit against Israel in late 2023 and charged it with breaching the Genocide Convention. The International Court of Justice issued an emergency order in January, mandating Israel to enact measures to prevent genocide. In late-May, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to instantly terminate military operations in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.
