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Ongoing hostage-truce talks between the United States, Israel, and Hamas have reached an impasse over a cornerstone demand by the latter to assure an end to the war. The U.S., Israel’s most influential military and diplomatic ally, has allegedly conveyed guarantees to the Islamist organization, Hamas, via Egypt and Qatar, that the war will conclude after the initial 40-day phase of the hostage-truce settlement currently being negotiated in Cairo, reports Israel’s Channel 12 news.
This American assurance has been deemed more valuable than any statements from Israel by Hamas, according to a senior source in the organization. This statement is given prominence amidst utterances from an unidentified senior Israeli diplomatic figure, speculated to be Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu has firmly maintained that Israel will not agree to discontinue the war as part of the hostage negotiation. He is opposed to the idea of mediators promising the end of the war as part of the agreement too.
This diplomatic stalemate persists as the humanitarian crisis deepens in besieged Gaza. Reports from the United Nations indicate escalating food shortages in the region, driving northern Gaza towards a “full-blown famine” that’s spreading south as Israel continues to limit food aid entering the region. To date, Israeli attacks on Gaza have resulted in at least 34,654 Palestinian deaths and 77,908 casualties.
The contentious issue regarding a ceasefire is whether the agreement will be permanent or temporary. Hamas insists on a specific commitment towards ending the war in any deal, while Israel is reluctant to make any concessions while Hamas remains active in Gaza. Notably, Israel’s Prime Minister has repeatedly stated his intention to initiate a new military ground operation in southern Rafah, irrespective of an agreement.
The United States, however, is hesitant to support a new offensive which could result in significant civilian casualties and insists on presenting a plan to protect displaced Palestinians first. An estimated 1.4 million people have taken refuge in Rafah to escape the fighting in the northern and central parts of Gaza.
Information Box:
– Ongoing negotiations in Cairo involve hostage exchange and a truce deal to pause the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
– The U.S. has allegedly assured Hamas, via Egypt and Qatar intermediaries, of the war’s end after the first phase of the negotiated deal.
– Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, categorically denies Israel’s approval of the war’s end tied to the ongoing negotiations.
– Aid shortages have caused a dire humanitarian situation in Gaza with the U.N. reporting imminent “full-blown famine”.
References:
1: ‘Times of Israel: US has conveyed an ‘end of war’ guarantee, Hamas says,’ 4 May 2024.
2: ‘Aljazeera: Israel’s war on Gaza live: Hamas wants US guarantees,’ By Nils Adler and Umut Uras, 5 May 2024.
3: ‘BBC: Israel-Gaza war: Ceasefire talks intensify in Cairo,’ By Anna Foster & Andre Rhoden-Paul, 11 hours ago.