Hamas has proposed to free all remaining Israeli hostages; however, it has declined Israel’s request to disarm following the conclusion of the conflict. Concurrently, Israel is indicating that it does not intend to withdraw from Gaza in the near future.
Is the Israel-Hamas conflict nearing a resolution? On Friday, Hamas indicated its readiness to release all remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
While this development may appear to be a constructive step towards a potential lasting ceasefire, Hamas has not agreed to all the conditions outlined in a previously suggested Israeli truce proposal. The group has stated that it will not disarm, as Israel demands, and has dismissed the idea of a temporary ceasefire in Gaza.
A prior temporary truce, which was in effect from January to March, resulted in the release of numerous hostages and a pause in the fighting in Gaza. However, once this ceasefire lapsed, Israel promptly resumed its aerial and ground operations in the region.
According to the agreement between Israel and Hamas, both parties were supposed to initiate discussions regarding a permanent resolution to the conflict on the 16th day of the ceasefire. Nevertheless, Israel opted not to engage in these talks as long as Hamas maintained its authority in Gaza.
Since that time, Israel has demonstrated numerous indications that it intends to remain in Gaza for the foreseeable future.
Escalation of military operations in Gaza
Earlier this week, Israel escalated its military actions throughout Gaza, targeting hospitals and other locations, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 individuals, including children.
Additionally, Israel announced the completion of a new security corridor that isolates the southern city of Rafah from the rest of Gaza, with military officials stating that operations would soon expand “vigorously” across much of the small coastal territory.
“Operations will rapidly extend to additional areas throughout most of Gaza, and you will need to evacuate the combat zones,” Defence Minister Israel Katz remarked in a statement, without specifying where Palestinians should relocate.
The statement urged Palestinians to oust Hamas and free the remaining hostages, asserting: “This is the only way to bring an end to the conflict.”
Israel restricts aid to Gaza
The government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has imposed a blockade on humanitarian aid entering Gaza. Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, confirmed that this blockade will persist.
“Israel’s stance is unequivocal: no humanitarian aid will be permitted to enter Gaza, and this blockade serves as a crucial leverage to prevent Hamas from exploiting aid for its own purposes,” Katz stated, amidst a significant humanitarian crisis that has arisen following Israel’s decision to halt aid since March 2.
“There are currently no plans to allow any humanitarian assistance into Gaza, nor are there preparations in place to facilitate such aid,” he further remarked.
Hamas rejects disarmament stipulation
In its proposal for a ceasefire agreement, Israel insisted that Hamas disarm following the conclusion of hostilities, a demand that the group has firmly rejected.
“Partial agreements are merely a façade for (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu’s political agenda… we will not participate in this strategy,” asserted Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s chief negotiator, during a televised address.
Israel to maintain ‘security zones’ indefinitely
Earlier this week, Katz remarked, “Unlike previous instances, the (Israeli military) will not withdraw from areas that have been cleared and occupied,” emphasizing that the military “will remain in the security zones as a buffer between the enemy and (Israeli) communities, regardless of whether the situation in Gaza is temporary or permanent — similar to the scenarios in Lebanon and Syria.”
In the meantime, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun indicated that Israel’s continued presence in certain regions of Lebanon is hindering the Lebanese army from fully deploying, as stipulated by the ceasefire agreement with Israel.
