News have been circulating of negotiations between Israel and Hamas, through the mediation of a number of countries. The aim is to put an end to the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Only then can the parties involved move to the negotiation table, so that a peace agreement that would lead to a two-State solution would be reached. That would end the three-quarters-of-a-century old Middle East predicament. Anyone following the prolonged negotiations that constantly fluctuate between progress and failure, even as the ethnic cleansing carried out by Israel against the Palestinians persist, realises that the gruesome prolongation is adopted to buy time and enable Israel to accomplish its diabolical plan of wiping the Palestinians out of Gaza, together with their houses and infrastructure, until Gaza as we know it ceases to exist.
This bleak outlook, of which Hamas is not absolved, is perhaps justified by the fact that international players, primary among them is Egypt, the US and its European affiliates, Russia and China, are all taking a very strict stance against the Israeli planned ground offensive in Rafah in southern Gaza. Following are some recent news headlines which, if anything, show the lack of seriousness in Israeli-Hamas negotiations, and the persistence of both in bombarding the Palestinians, killing, displacing, and starving them at startling rates that go beyond the ugliest of genocides in modern history; I have added my comments:
- Israel threatens to invade Rafah if Hamas does not agree to a hostage deal.
- At the cease fire meeting in Cairo, Hamas confirms its seriousness in reaching an agreement.. and Israel expresses its desire for permanent calm.
- The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman calls on both Israel and Hamas to show more commitment and seriousness in the ceasefire negotiations.
- In the context of Egypt’s tireless efforts to achieve a ceasefire and reach a truce in Gaza, Hamas announces it is studying Israel’s response to a proposal regarding a truce and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. It will deliver its response to the proposal once it finishes studying it. Kindly note that all this back and forth takes place while the genocide, ethnic cleansing, displacement and starvation of the Palestinians continue. Neither Israel nor Hamas appear to be in any rush!
- The families of Israeli hostages accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of spoiling one deal after another to release their relatives and save their lives. This exposes gross negligence on the part of the Netanyahu cabinet, and failure of Israeli pressure on Hamas. Here a question begs an answer: Is it failure, or is it collusion between Israel and Hamas to buy time until Gaza is hollowed out of its population?
- Amid Israel’s persistent bombing of the Gaza Strip, including the city of Rafah which is now home to more than a million displaced Palestinians, and following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the city of Khan Yunis, mass graves are uncovered exposing Israeli crimes in attacking the bodies of the dead, stealing their organs and disfiguring them so they become unidentifiable. All the while, Hamas takes its time to study how to respond to negotiations with Israel!
- Amid categorical Egyptian rejection and warning of heavy human losses, Israel announces plans to invade Rafah with ground forces while establishing a tent city for the displaced. Israeli statements indicate disagreements that would soon be resolved, however, between Israel and the US regarding the planned invasion. It is no secret that Israeli US disagreements are of a soft velvety nature, and are resolved so as not to hurt Israeli sensitivities!
- Hamas holds Netanyahu responsible for disrupting the negotiations, while US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken holds Hamas responsible for disrupting the negotiations. Obviously, those negotiations are about reaching a truce in the beleaguered Gaza Strip. Until it is decided who is responsible for obstructing the negotiations, Gaza may go to hell!
- Washington expresses concerns about Israel’s invasion of Rafah, but this does not stop it from granting Israel arms deals worth more than a billion dollars; the arms include tank ammunition, military vehicles, and mortar shells. Meanwhile, representatives of the Israeli Prime Minister agree to take US concerns into account. It is obvious that the US is making tremendous effort to appease Israel and not offend its sentiments!
- Israel intensifies its raids on Gaza. The United Nations, through its human rights arm, declares that the destruction of structures and infrastructure in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli occupying forces is the highest compared to any other conflict in history. The Palestinian Ministry of Health announces that the death toll in the Gaza Strip had risen to 34,000 dead and 77,000 injured as a result of the war which has now extended over seven months.
These are excerpts of news circulated during the last month. But no worries, please be patient and wait for the outcome of the negotiations between Israel and Hamas!
Watani International
10 May 2024