Israel-Hamas Ceasefire and Hostage Deal Faces New Challenges

Optimism for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage agreement has waned as new conditions emerge, complicating the negotiations. Talks in Doha had raised hopes for a breakthrough, with Hamas showing willingness to compromise on major sticking points. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent conditions have cast doubt on the progress of the deal.

Israel’s conditions include continued fighting in Gaza “until all objectives of the war have been achieved.” This stance conflicts with Hamas’ demands for a permanent ceasefire before any agreement is signed. Gershon Baskin, a former Israeli hostage negotiator, noted that Netanyahu’s conditions block progress, as they are “completely against what Hamas’ demands are.”

This most recent conflict, which began nine months ago in response to Hamas’ October 7 attack that killed 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages, has devastated Gaza. Over 38,000 people have been killed, and nearly the entire population has been displaced. Israel maintains that it will not end the war until all hostages are freed and Hamas is eliminated.

United States President Joe Biden had proposed a three-phase plan for resolving the conflict. The first phase involves a six-week period of Israeli troop withdrawal from populated Gaza areas, the release of hostages, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners. The second phase would see the release of remaining hostages, and the third phase would focus on Gaza’s reconstruction and the return of any deceased hostages’ remains.

Despite initial progress, new Israeli evacuation orders in Gaza have led Hamas to warn that negotiations might return to “point zero.” Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh accused Netanyahu and the Israeli army of jeopardizing the talks. Conversely, an Israeli source indicated that detailed negotiations might still proceed as both parties appear close to a framework agreement.

Netanyahu’s stance has faced criticism from across the Israeli political spectrum. Far-right members of his government, such as Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have opposed any compromises with Hamas. Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu’s provocative statements, emphasizing the critical nature of the negotiations.

The U.S. remains cautiously optimistic, though some experts believe Netanyahu’s political challenges could hinder progress. As anti-government protests continue in Israel, Biden’s administration hopes to balance Israeli interests with the broader goal of ending the conflict.