Situation at a glance - Tens of thousands demand hostage deal in Israel
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under increasing pressure nine months after the Islamic Hamas' massacre in his country. Thousands of people protested nationwide, calling for the resumed indirect negotiations for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to bring about a successful outcome. "Make a deal now!", chanted demonstrators in Tel Aviv, according to a reporter from the German Press Agency (dpa).
New Hope
According to media reports, there were clashes with the police and arrests at the protests. The protests were fueled by reports of progress in the negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. "For the first time in many long months, we have hope again," said a demonstrator, whose son was kidnapped by Hamas during the terror attack on October 7, 2023. "This is a chance we cannot miss!", she shouted to the newspaper "Haaretz".
To Netanyahu, the mother said: "Netanyahu, we have seen how you have torpedoed the agreements in the moment of truth and torn our hearts to pieces every time." With forceful words, she begged the Minister-President: "Do not break our hearts again!". Netanyahu governs with ultra-religious and right-wing coalition partners who reject concessions to Hamas and whom Netanyahu must consider.
On the table lies a roadmap that initially proposes a time-limited ceasefire and the exchange of female, older, and sick hostages for a larger number of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons. During the ceasefire, the parties are to negotiate the end of the war and the release of the remaining hostages. So far, Hamas has demanded that Israel commit to ending all hostilities before negotiations begin. According to media reports, Hamas has withdrawn this core demand.
Hamas Demands Guarantees
At the same time, however, the Islamists are insisting on a written commitment from the mediators that the negotiation phase - and thus the time-limited ceasefire - will continue indefinitely if no agreement is reached within the specified time frame. This demand of Hamas is a decisive point before the mediators can sit down at the table to negotiate the details of the agreement, reported the US news portal "Axios" based on two Israeli officials.
The Hamas and other terrorist groups attacked the southern part of Israel exactly a week ago, killing over 1200 people and kidnapping another 250 as hostages in the Gaza Strip. This unprecedented massacre triggered the Gaza War. According to Israeli estimates, around 120 hostages are still in the hands of their captors, many of whom may no longer be alive. The indirect negotiations are expected to continue next week, according to the office of Israel's Prime Minister.
At the Tel Aviv demonstration, a video of a former hostage was played on a large screen. The 22-year-old Almog Meir Jan, who was freed by the Israeli military a month ago, says in the video: "We need a deal so that all mothers can hug their children and husbands, just like I can hug my mother every morning." The fact that Hamas now appears to be showing more flexibility gives hope to many people. According to the office of Israel's Prime Minister, however, there are still contentious issues between the two sides.
Report: Palestinians hope for imprisoned Barghouti
It is uncertain what will happen in Gaza after the end of the war. According to a report in the "Wall Street Journal," many Palestinians are hoping for Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian politician imprisoned in Israel. He is a member of the Palestinian party Fatah, which dominates the Palestinian Autonomy Authority (PA) in the West Bank, and was an advisor to the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Fatah and Hamas are the two largest Palestinian organizations and bitter rivals. However, there have been reconciliation talks between the two organizations for several years.
Barghuti was sentenced to life imprisonment five times in Israel in 2004 for murder. For his supporters, Barghuti is a freedom fighter like Nelson Mandela, as reported by the "Wall Street Journal." His popularity among Palestinians is based on his image as a supporter of violence against Israel, but also as a pragmatist who seeks a permanent peace agreement. The significance of Barghuti is evident in Hamas' demand to release him as part of a prisoner exchange for Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, according to the newspaper, citing Arab intermediaries.
The USA wants to reform the Autonomy Authority in Gaza
In 2007, Hamas seized sole control of the Gaza Strip through violence and expelled Fatah from the area. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Autonomy Authority PA and Chairman of Fatah, has been governing de facto only in the West Bank since then. The USA, as Israel's main ally, wants the Autonomy Authority to be restructured and to regain control in the Gaza Strip in the future. Netanyahu opposes this.
Barghuti is the only Palestinian leader who enjoys broad support in Gaza as well as in the West Bank, in contrast to the weakened Hamas and the PA, as reported by the "Wall Street Journal." This is also evident in a recent Palestinian opinion poll in the West Bank.
Some in Israel also see Barghuti as a possible key to peace, despite his past, according to the US newspaper. "If we are really looking for a solution, we should keep an eye on him," quoted the US newspaper a former director of the Israeli intelligence service Mossad. Israel's consistent refusal to release Barghuti from prison shows how far apart the two sides are from an agreement, wrote the newspaper.
The death toll in Gaza continues
Meanwhile, the fighting in Gaza continues for the time being. According to Palestinian reports, 16 people were killed in an air strike on a refugee camp in the middle of the blockaded area. It was an old UNRWA school, they said. The Israeli military confirmed that several Hamas fighters were attacked in the area of the UNRWA school. The object had served as a hideout and operations base for attacks on the Israeli military, they said. Steps were taken to minimize the risk to civilians before the attack. The statements of both sides could not be verified independently.
- The German Press Agency reported on the nationwide demonstrations in Israel, calling for resumed negotiations and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
- The protests were fueled by reports of progress in the negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the USA.
- A demonstrator in Tel Aviv, whose son was kidnapped by Hamas during the terror attack, expressed hope for a successful outcome.
- The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure for his handling of Hamas and the Gaza Strip situation.
- Hamas has reportedly withdrawn its core demand of requiring Israel to commit to ending all hostilities before negotiations begin.
- The USA news portal "Axios" reported that Hamas is demanding a written commitment from the mediators for an indefinite ceasefire period if no agreement is reached.
- The WSJ reported that Palestinians are hoping for Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian politician imprisoned in Israel, who is seen as a potential key to peace by some in Israel.
- Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian party Fatah and advisor to the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, is a controversial figure due to his past involvement in violence against Israel.
- The Israeli military confirmed an air strike on a refugee camp in Gaza, killing several Hamas fighters who used the UNRWA school as a hideout and operations base.
- The indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are expected to continue next week, according to the office of Israel's Prime Minister, amidst ongoing conflicts and demonstrations.
- Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition partners reject concessions to Hamas, creating challenges for the Israeli Prime Minister in navigating the complex political landscape of the Middle East.
