June 12th 2024.
Yesterday, Hamas made an announcement stating that they have responded to the US-backed proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, but with some proposed changes. It seems that Hamas did not fully accept the proposal that the United States has been pushing for, but the negotiations are still ongoing in hopes of reaching a resolution to the eight-month war.
The foreign ministries of Qatar and Egypt, who have been working alongside the United States as mediators, confirmed that they have received Hamas' response and are currently reviewing it. White House national security spokesman John Kirby has also stated that they have received the response and are currently evaluating it in Washington.
According to Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha, their response includes amendments that confirm the ceasefire, withdrawal, reconstruction, and exchange. However, he did not provide any further details. While Hamas supports the main points of the proposal, they have expressed concerns about whether Israel will follow through with its terms, especially when it comes to a permanent end to the fighting and a full withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the release of all hostages held by the militants.
Despite the US stating that Israel has accepted the proposal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given mixed signals, stating that they will not stop until their goal of destroying Hamas is achieved. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been in the region this week, working towards finalizing the deal. This is his eighth visit since the conflict erupted in Gaza after Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7th.
Yesterday, Blinken continued to pressure Hamas to accept the proposal, stating that the UN Security Council's vote in favor of it clearly shows that the world supports this plan. He also mentioned that Israel has reaffirmed their commitment to the proposal during their meeting on Monday night.
In a joint statement, Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group announced that they have submitted their response to Qatar and Egypt. They stated that they are willing to work towards an agreement and their main priority is to bring a complete stop to the war.
Late yesterday, Blinken attended a Gaza aid conference in Jordan and announced over $400 million in additional aid for Palestinians in Gaza and the surrounding region. This brings the total US assistance to over $674 million in the past eight months. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed the conference, stating that the amount of aid reaching Gaza has decreased significantly since the Israeli offensive in May. He called for all border crossings to be opened to allow for the distribution of aid, as the situation in Gaza has led to widespread hunger.
The UN human rights office has also stated that both Israeli forces and Palestinian militants may have committed war crimes during a recent Israeli raid that resulted in the rescue of four hostages. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, at least 274 Palestinians were killed during the operation.
Blinken, who was in Cairo on Monday, is also expected to visit Qatar to discuss the next steps in finalizing the deal. On Monday, the UN Security Council voted in favor of the proposal, with only Russia abstaining. The resolution calls for both Israel and Hamas to fully implement the terms without delay or condition.
The proposal, which was announced by President Joe Biden last month, includes a three-phase plan. The first phase calls for an initial six-week ceasefire and the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces would also withdraw from populated areas and Palestinian civilians would be allowed to return to their homes. Currently, Hamas is holding around 120 hostages, with a third of them believed to be dead.
The second phase involves negotiations for a permanent end to hostilities in exchange for the release of all remaining hostages and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The third and final phase includes a reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of any deceased hostages to their families.
Hamas previously agreed to a similar proposal last month, which was rejected by Israel. Although President Biden presented it as an Israeli proposal, Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly disputed some aspects of it, stating that there were parts left out. This could be due to his political dilemma, as his far-right coalition allies have rejected the proposal and have threatened to bring down his government if he ends the war without destroying Hamas.
There is also pressure for Netanyahu to accept a deal that would bring the remaining hostages back home. Thousands of Israelis, including families of the hostages, have demonstrated in support of the US-backed plan. The main sticking point in the negotiations seems to be the transition from the first phase to the second phase. Hamas wants assurances that Israel will not resume the war, while Israel wants to ensure that the negotiations for the second phase do not prolong the ceasefire indefinitely, leaving hostages in captivity.
Secretary Blinken has stated that the proposal will bring an immediate ceasefire and commit both parties to negotiate an enduring one. He believes that this is beneficial for everyone and they will have to see how the situation progresses.
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