Israel and Hamas are at odds over extending their ceasefire
Image: Mohamed Arafat/AP
The Israel-Hamas ceasefire is facing an uncertain future, after Phase 1 of the deal expired on Saturday without signs of progress towards the second phase.
Catch up quick: Israel and Hamas agreed to a temporary ceasefire in mid-January featuring three phases, with the second and third phases to be further negotiated during the first.
Phase 1, which involved Hamas freeing some Israeli hostages in exchange for some Palestinian prisoners and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, has proceeded smoothly over the past month-and-a-half. But the two sides have remained stuck on negotiations over the final two phases and a more permanent end to the war.
Tensions escalated this weekend. On Sunday, Israel halted all goods and supplies entering Gaza and threatened “additional consequences,” citing Hamas’s refusal to accept a proposal by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to continue the ceasefire after Phase 1’s expiration.
- Hamas accused Israel of trying to derail the previous ceasefire agreement. The group says it wants to continue negotiating a more permanent ceasefire – but under the same conditions as the first 42 days of the framework, which it says was part of the January deal.
What’s in the Israeli-approved proposal? While Witkoff hasn’t made his plan public, Israel says it calls for the temporary ceasefire to continue for ~7 weeks – covering the Ramadan and Jewish Passover periods – while negotiations over a permanent peace deal continue.
Israel also says Witkoff’s proposal would begin with Hamas releasing half of its remaining living and dead Israeli hostages, with the rest handed over when a permanent deal is reached.
- Under terms of the January ceasefire, Phase 2 was to be centered around the release of Hamas' remaining hostages and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Looking ahead…While both Israel and Hamas stopped short of saying the ceasefire had ended this weekend, officials from both sides also say they’re currently preparing for a return to the fighting.
đź“Š Flash poll: In your opinion, will the Israel-Hamas ceasefire remain in effect until a more permanent peace deal is reached?
See a 360° view of what pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that Hamas is demonstrating why reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza has been so elusive for so long, and that Presidents Biden and Trump were/are right to stand firmly by Israel and demand the release of hostages by Hamas.
- Others contend that at this late stage, the extension of Phase 1 instead of a transition into Phase 2 is better than nothing – but the immense question of Phase 3 looms: what form reconstruction in Gaza might take.
- “Hamas’s latest threats prove Biden was right — and so is Trump” –Brett McGurk, WaPo
- “Tthe ceasefire and hostage deal must not fizzle out” –The Guardian Editorial Board
- “Gaza need not suffer another day of hell” –South China Morning Post Editorial Board
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that the true problem with Palestinians is that no country in the Middle East wishes to accept them, since they tend to eschew assimilation and pursue the eradication of Jews from wherever they may be.
- Others contend that Hamas is clearly trying to have the best of both worlds in which the ceasefire continues, and they don’t have to hand over any more hostages – but that line of thinking is detrimental for Israel, who should keep pushing for progress.
- “Real problem with the Palestinians: Nobody wants them” –David Keene, Washington Times
- “Hamas stalls Gaza ceasefire talks, betting Israel won't resume fighting” –Seth J. Frantzman, Jerusalem Post
- “Palestinians Have Dehumanized Themselves” –Uri Kurlianchik, National Review
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