War on Gaza: What Israel and Hamas want in a ceasefire agreement

In recent days, mediators from the United States and the Middle East have been optimistic they were close reach an agreement for a two-month ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of over 100 hostages taken by Hamas.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the proposal on Tuesday two main demands of Hamas – for Israel to withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip and release thousands of Palestinian prisoners – indicating that it persists a wide gap between the two parties.

The war began after Hamas’ October 7 assault on southern Israel, in which fighters killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 others hostage. About half of the hostages were freed during a week-long ceasefire last November in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Israel’s offensive caused the deaths of over 26,700 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, whose count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. About 85 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have fled their homes. And the UN underlined that a quarter of the population starve

Conflict also arose repercussions on the entire regional territory. Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen have attacked Israeli and US targets supporting the Palestinians, triggering retaliation in a spiral of violence which could trigger a regional clash.

Below is a taste of the position of each party To end the conflict:

Netanyahu seeks ‘total victory’

The Israeli Prime Minister has promised this on several occasions will continue with the war until Israel destroys Hamas’ military and governance capabilities and releases all hostages, two objectives that are increasingly difficult to achieve and which many Israelis fear are exclusivist.

In a speech Tuesday at a pre-military religious academy located in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel, Netanyahu said that “we will not withdraw the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip and we will not release thousands of terrorists.”

This would seem to rule out any agreement with Hamas, but it could also be a targeted stance support Israel’s position in the negotiations indirect actions that are performed.

Netanyahu is below growing pressure exerted by the families of the hostages and public opinion to reach an agreement with Hamas for the return of the hostages. Many Israelis fear that time is running out.

At the same time, his government coalition —dominated by hard-line ultranationalists who oppose a deal— it could fall apart if he is perceived as too lenient towards Hamas.

Israeli military forces They successfully rescued only one hostage, and Hamas says several have died in Israeli attacks or during failed rescue operations. In December, Israeli forces They killed three hostages by mistake who had escaped and were waving the white flag.

Hamas wants an end to the war

Hamas has refused to release any more hostages until Israel ends its offensive and withdraw from Gaza. Look for a broader agreement that includes a long-term truce and reconstruction.

The group’s top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said Tuesday that this is his priority it is the “complete withdrawal” of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. He commented that any agreement should also lead to a reconstructionHe lifting of the block Egyptian-Israeli control of the territory and liberation of the territory “All our heroic prisoners.”

Hamas is believed to be holding hostages in deep tunnels who are heavily guarded, using them as human shields for their top leaders and as a bargaining chip for the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners. The latter include high-level fighters involved in attacks in which Israeli civilians were killed.

If Hamas releases the hostages without ending the war, they would be exposed to an Israeli attack even bigger once the ceasefire expires. Failure to secure a meaningful prisoner exchange could lead to strong criticism from Palestinians following the unprecedented death and destruction in the small coastal enclave.

On the other hand, if Hamas manages to achieve a long-term truce, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of thousands of prisoners, he would be seen as the winner of the warat least by his supporters.

Mediators look for a middle ground

The United States, which has provided crucial military aid to Israel’s offensive, largely supports Israel’s war aims. Wants all hostages will be released and guarantees that Hamas will no longer be able to commit an attack like the one on October 7.

But so did President Joe Biden’s administration a great interest in ending a war that has generated regional instability and divided Democratic voters during an election year.

Arab countries, including major mediators Egypt and Qatarthey have been pushing for a ceasefire since the early days of the war, fearing further instability.

The United States and the Arab mediators It seems like they’re looking for a middle ground. where the hostages are located released in phases for a period of two months in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, we leave the arrival of more urgent humanitarian aid in Gaza AND a partial withdrawal of the Israeli forces.

A two-month truce could buy some time negotiate a broader agreement to address the long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

American and Arab diplomats have spoken of a possible grand agreement in whichSaudi Arabia would recognize Israel and would join other Arab countries and the Western-recognized Palestinian Authority to help rebuild and govern Gaza, in exchange for a credible path towards the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

But Netanyahu, whose government opposes a Palestinian state, and Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel, They also ruled out this possibility.