Mediators have reached out to Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of Hamas’s military wing in Gaza, who has reportedly rejected the new ceasefire plan proposed by the United States. Al-Haddad is believed to perceive the plan as an effort to dismantle Hamas, which he opposes, leading him to reaffirm his commitment to continue fighting.
US President Donald Trump’s framework, consisting of 20 points, has been accepted by Israel. It demands that Hamas disarm and relinquish any governing role in Gaza. Some members of Hamas’s political leadership based in Qatar are reportedly willing to consider the plan but are limited in their influence, particularly because they do not control the hostages held by the group.
Currently, there are approximately 48 hostages in Gaza, with only 20 believed to be alive. A significant hurdle in the negotiations is a requirement for Hamas to surrender all hostages within the first 72 hours of a ceasefire, which compromises their bargaining power. Despite assurances from Trump that Israel would adhere to the ceasefire conditions, there remains a distrust within Hamas regarding Israel’s intentions—particularly after an attempted assassination of Hamas leaders in Doha last month, which contradicted US positions.
Moreover, some Hamas leaders oppose the concept of deploying a “temporary International Stabilisation Force” by the US and Arab states to Gaza, viewing it as a potential new occupation. A proposed map from the Trump administration outlining phased Israeli troop withdrawals includes what is termed a “security buffer zone,” which raises questions about its administration and potential involvement of Israeli forces.
Since agreeing to the proposal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has challenged various aspects, emphasizing that Israeli military presence in parts of Gaza will continue and expressed opposition to a Palestinian state, which contradicts the US framework promoting a pathway to Palestinian self-determination. The backdrop of this conflict includes a recent Israeli military campaign launched in response to a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in significant casualties and hostage situations.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c708v2q5r09o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss