Gaza peace agreement lacks clarity, consensus

While talks of an interim two-month cease fire and ensuring an end to Israel’s military assault in Gaza are doing the rounds, Israel and Hamas disagree on how the war should end. Nor has there been an end to hostile statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who before his visit to the White House, vowed there will be no Hamas in a post war Gaza. Much on expected lines, both sides are still showing rigidity in their long –held positions, giving no clues as to whether or how a compromise agreement could be reached. Hamas said in a brief statement Wednesday that it had received a proposal from the mediators and is holding talks with them to bridge gaps to return to the negotiating table to try to reach a ceasefire agreement. Hamas was also studying what U.S. President Donald Trump called, a final ceasefire proposal for Gaza but insisted that Israel must pull out from Gaza. It may be pertinent to note that there is growing public pressure on Netanyahu to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and end the nearly two-year-long war. For Gazans, who have fled multiple times and face daily struggles to find food 21 months into Israel’s military campaign, there was a glimmer of optimism but many are worried that any ceasefire would only be temporary. They want a complete end to war with Israeli forces leaving Gaza. Israel’s military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians (women and children). According to the Gaza health ministry, the war has displaced almost the whole 2.3 million population and plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis. More than 80% of the territory is now an Israeli-militarized zone or under displacement orders, according to the UN. The war has sparked a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, pushing hundreds of thousands of people to- ward hunger. Throughout the nearly 21-month-long war, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over whether the war should end as part of any deal. In stark contrast, Israel says it will only agree to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and exiles itself, something the group refuses to do. The latest proposal mooted by Trump and involving Egypt and Qatar, calls for a 60-day deal that would include a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid to the territory. Not so surprisingly, Israel has not committed to the latest proposal. Trump, who is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, took a veiled dig at Hamas, telling them that they better accept the deal or face much worse. Trump, interestingly, told reporters during a visit to Florida that he would be very ‘firm’ with Netanyahu on the need for a speedy Gaza. The world waits with anticipation that the Gaza war ends and no more lives are lost with all eyes on Israel, US and the mediators to find a permanent peace deal.