Israel and Hamas agree to temporary ceasefire
Achieved through Qatari mediation… Middle East war watershed
White House statement: “We welcome hostage release agreement”
Netanyahu says it makes no sense to stop the war
There is potential for conflict when Biden presses for a long-term truce.
As Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas agreed to release some hostages and a four-day ceasefire on the 22nd, the war in the Middle East, where controversy over civilian casualties grew, entered a brief lull. Although pressure from some international communities calling for a permanent ceasefire is expected to continue, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated his determination to ‘annihilate Hamas,’ so attention is paid to the situation after the end of this ceasefire.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said that the war cabinet approved the temporary ceasefire agreement and said, “The government is committed to the return of all hostages. “The first step toward achieving the goal has been approved,” he announced. It was reported that three hard-right far-right ministers opposed it, but the military and intelligence agencies supported it and decided on a ceasefire.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, if Hamas releases at least 50 people, 12 to 13 per day, mainly children and women, for four days starting on the 23rd, Israel will release three Palestinian prisoners for each hostage. CNN reported that the released hostages are expected to include 30 children, 8 mothers, and 12 women. There are also observations that if Hamas releases 10 more people, the ceasefire could be extended by one day and could last for up to 10 days. The daily Jerusalem Post reported the possibility of 80 people being released.
During the ceasefire, Israeli ground and air operations in the Gaza Strip will be suspended. The Prime Minister’s Office said, “There will be no attacks on the Gaza Strip or arrests (Hamas agents, etc.),” and “With some exceptions, the operation of aircraft such as drones will be restricted.” Hundreds of relief trucks containing medical supplies and fuel are also permitted to enter the Gaza Strip.
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which mediated the hostage negotiations, said on this day, “The scale of hostage release will increase later in the implementation phase of the agreement.” U.S. President Joe Biden said, “I welcome this agreement,” and added, “It is important that all aspects of the agreement are implemented in the future.”
With the temporary ceasefire agreement, Israel was able to partially calm the anti-Netanyahu public opinion within the country by partially responding to the international community’s call for a ceasefire and achieving some results in the war goal of “rescuing hostages.” Prime Minister Netanyahu, who recently met with the families of some of the hostages who marched in front of the Prime Minister’s Office demanding ‘hostage release first’, emphasized that “(hostage release) is our top priority.” He also urged the cabinet to agree to the agreement at the cabinet meeting that day, saying, “(The ceasefire) is difficult, but it is the right decision.”
For Hamas, it was able to create favorable public opinion by bringing in more prisoners than it released and stopping the Israeli attack, thereby taking the lead in protecting civilians, while also buying time for military reorganization and refuge.
The United States, which has clashed with Israel several times over the direction of governance of the Gaza Strip after the war, has proven its ability to put diplomatic pressure on Israel by producing results that can reduce civilian casualties. The New York Times said, “This agreement process is an example of an amplification of the conflict between Netanyahu and the White House,” and “The White House had a hard time persuading Netanyahu, who only insisted on stopping fighting for a certain period of time.” There is also an analysis that this has provided an opportunity to ease the conflict between the pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian camps in the United States.
Qatar, which reached a ceasefire agreement between the United States, Israel, and Hamas, is evaluated to have solidified its status as a mediator. Qatar has a close relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic organization that can be said to be the parent body of Hamas. Politico, a U.S. political media outlet, reported that a small secret organization formed by Qatar’s proposal to the U.S. and Israel negotiated directly with Hamas and played a decisive role in drafting this agreement. It is known that White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was also involved in the formation of this organization.
However, hostage negotiations will continue even after the ceasefire ends, and it is unclear whether a longer ceasefire will occur. Prime Minister Netanyahu said at a cabinet meeting that day, “There is a nonsense saying that the war will stop after a temporary ceasefire. “We will not stop the war until we complete the elimination of Hamas,” he emphasized. It was made clear that expelling Hamas from Gaza was the top goal.
NYT, citing a senior U.S. official, predicted, “If the U.S. demands permanent measures such as a longer ceasefire or a ‘two-state solution,’ Netanyahu and Biden will clash again.” U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken plans to visit Israel for the fourth time since the outbreak of war in the Middle East early next week to discuss a ceasefire and future responses.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.