Gaza He desperately needs a way out. After more than 14 months of fierce Israeli offensive, the Gazan people wake up in hell every morning. As international organizations accuse Israel of acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing, mediators intensify their talks in Egypt and Qatar to achieve an agreement that will alleviate the suffering of Gazans and Israeli captives. Although some gaps in conflict points have been reduced, differences persist. It seems that Gazans will spend another Christmas under the bombs with empty stomachs.
Israel y Hamaslike the main parties involved, have recently shown some optimism about the possibility of reaching an agreement. In the 441 days of Israeli offensive, only one has been achieved cease-fire which lasted six days more than a year ago. Since then, the bombs have not stopped falling, while Israeli troops continue to ravage much of the enclave and humanitarian aid does not reach the starving Palestinians who are still alive. At least 45,129 Gazans have dead as a result of this lethal campaign, not counting the thousands of people missing under the rubble over these 14 months.
Hamas concessions
But that optimism has already been experienced in previous moments and has never ended up bringing with it so longed for peace. Hamas has repeatedly demanded the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops of the Gaza Strip and the cessation of hostilities to hand over part of the hundred hostages still in the enclave. Israel, for its part, refuses to abandon Palestinian territory, while insisting that a ceasefire does not imply the definitive end of the war and that its presence in Gaza will remain. The current moment in the region, with the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the weakening of Hezbollah in it Lebanoncan force these positions to become more flexible.
Especially by Hamas. In the latest negotiations in Egypt, the Palestinian group has already expressed that it accepts that Israeli troops remain in Gaza “temporarily”according to reports from the Wall Street Journal. They would remain in the existing fortified positions along the corridor Philadelphiabetween Egypt and Gaza, and the corridor netzarimwhich divides the north from the southern enclave, during a 60-day “pause” in fighting. Likewise, Hamas would release 30 vulnerable captives Israelis named on a list he has provided to Egyptian authorities. The majority are women, the elderly and people with medical problems.
In exchange, Israel should release dozens of palestinian prisonersbut the parties continue to disagree on the final number of prisoners. Hamas wants high-profile prisoners to be included, although it has not yet been clarified whether, if released, they will be exiled to third countries. His release from prison could spark a political crisis in Israel, as hardline militants in the prime minister’s ruling coalition, Benjamin Netanyahuhave expressed their intention to leave the Government if too many concessions are made. Both the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrichsuch as National Security, Itamar Ben Gvirboth far-right, have described an agreement of the characteristics currently being discussed as “a serious mistake.”
Return to the north
Another point that is being debated is the increase in entry in the enclave of humanitarian aidon which the majority of the population depends. This same Thursday Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of “extermination and acts of genocide” for denying the access to water to Gazans, noting that thousands of people have died from dehydration and related illnesses during the war. Access to humanitarian assistance has reached minimum levels in recent weeks, especially in the north, which has been under a medieval siege for months. As part of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas has demanded the return of the Palestinians displaced from the north of the enclave.
According to Egyptian and Hamas officials, Israel is willing to allow people to return north to Gaza City, the largest in the territory, but does not want people to return further north to areas near the border Israeli. Although Netanyahu defends that his troops remain in the north to combat Hamas militants, the statements of his allies and the actions on the ground show that the interest goes far beyond the military and that the occupation –and possible annexation– of northern Gaza by Israel seems close to becoming a reality. Obviously the Palestinian group opposes this possibility.
American influence
This Thursday the official in charge of hostage matters at the Israeli prime minister’s office, Yaron Cohensent a message to the families of the captives saying that the combination of recent events in the region and American influence has created the conditions under which an agreement can be reached. Also that same day, the United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinkenreiterated the Biden Administration’s belief that it is possible to reach an agreement due to the recent isolation of Hamas and the weakening of the Axis of Resistance led by Iran. In turn, he has expressed the hope that this will happen before Joe Biden leaves the presidency next January 20.
While negotiations continue in Qatar and Egypt, Gazans continue to languish under Israeli violence. In the last few hours, at least 15 Palestinians have died in two schools in Gaza City that were serving as shelters for those forcibly displaced by the war. Throughout Thursday, some 41 personas They lost their lives due to Israeli attacks throughout Gazan territory. Doctors without Borders has published a new report titled ‘Gaza, death trap’ in which it considers that there are “clear signs of ethnic cleansing” by Israeli forces in the Palestinian territory.
