Israel- Palestine Ceasefire Deal In Making!

Ishtiaq Ahmed

Bradford: Over the past year, we have witnessed the relentless mass genocide, displacement, and starvation of Palestinian men, women, and children. Every international law of war has been flouted with impunity.

Now, Israel and Hamas appear to be moving toward a potential deal that could pave the way for a semblance of peace in the afflicted region.

Thus far, at least 46,565 Palestinians have been killed, and 109,660 injured. These grim figures continue to rise daily.

According to UNICEF, nearly all of Gaza’s 1.1 million children require mental health and psychological support due to ongoing Israeli bombardments, repeated displacement, and dire living conditions in the winter cold.

The UN estimates that at least 19,000 Palestinian children have been orphaned since the war on Gaza began 16 months ago.

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These catastrophic statistics also reveal the indiscriminate destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure—hospitals, schools, homes, livelihoods, and entire communities. Additionally, at least 203 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces since the war’s outset, including several in the new year. The list of tragedies continues to grow.

Amid this devastation, negotiations for a ceasefire are underway. Signs indicate that a ceasefire deal may soon be brokered in Doha under the watchful eye of Kuwaiti mediators, who have gained a reputation for successful shuttle diplomacy in challenging international crises. Kuwait has emerged as a trusted ally of the United States and its partners.

Reports suggest that the major obstacles to the deal have been resolved, and its finalisation is imminent. In the first phase of the agreement, Hamas is expected to release 33 of the 94 hostages it holds in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

This phase would coincide with a 42-day ceasefire, setting the stage for subsequent negotiations to end the war. The second phase is scheduled to begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire’s implementation.

President Biden remarked, “The deal we have structured would free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel, and allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians who have suffered terribly in this war that Hamas started.”

This carefully crafted statement emphasizes security for Israel and the release of hostages while merely referencing humanitarian aid for Palestinians. It makes no mention of the mass killings or displacement and places blame for the war squarely on Hamas, framing Palestinians as the aggressors who must bear responsibility for their own suffering.

At the start of the new year, a ceasefire seemed remote due to Israel’s intransigence. For over a year, Prime Minister Netanyahu, his ministers, and military chiefs have defied global opinion, dismissing calls to curb their policies of ethnic cleansing and territorial expansion.

What, then, has changed in the past week to bring Israel to the negotiating table with Hamas, its most detested adversary?

Several factors are at play. Netanyahu has been unable to secure the release of Israeli hostages despite a large-scale, ruthless military campaign lasting over a year.

Mounting pressure from families of hostages and Israel’s anti-war movement has added to his challenges. Within the international community, Netanyahu’s original objectives appear increasingly overshadowed by his policies of ethnic cleansing and expansion. His rhetoric of self-defence is losing credibility, and accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity have intensified global pressure.

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The changing U.S. political landscape may also be a factor. With President Biden’s term ending and Trump’s potential return to the White House, Netanyahu faces uncertainty. He has relied on Biden’s financial and military backing to sustain his policies.

This ceasefire effort may be Netanyahu’s way of showing gratitude to Biden, given Trump’s unpredictability as a successor. While Trump is an ardent supporter of Israel and has a far-right mind-set that aligns with Netanyahu, his broader foreign policy preferences, such as reducing U.S. international involvement, create anxiety within NATO allies and Israel.

Any ceasefire deal will face significant challenges. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a far-right figure, has threatened to resign and urged his allies to collapse the government over the emerging deal with Hamas. Netanyahu relies on their parliamentary support to maintain his coalition.

“Over the past year, through our political power, we successfully prevented this deal from moving forward time and time again,” Ben Gvir stated on X.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has vowed to continue supporting Palestinian resistance, even as the ceasefire takes effect. Thousands of Lebanese have returned to southern Lebanon during the pause in fighting, prompting Israel to impose a curfew.

The world waits anxiously as this delicate and complex process unfolds.

The article is the writer’s opinion, it may or may not adhere to the organization’s editorial policy.

The author is a British citizen of Pakistani origin with a keen interest in Pakistani and international affairs.