Devendra Kumar
As the seven-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues to rage on, a joint Egyptian-Qatari proposal for a ceasefire has been accepted by Hamas, according to the group’s statement. The news comes hours after Israel ordered around 100,000 Palestinians to begin evacuating the southern city of Rafah, signaling a potential ground invasion could be imminent. Despite the offer, it remains unclear whether the deal will meet Hamas’s key demand of ending the war and complete Israeli withdrawal.
According to sources, Israeli officials are examining the proposal, but cautioned that it “is not the framework Israel proposed.” The proposed ceasefire would take place in stages, with Hamas releasing hostages it holds in exchange for Israeli troop pullbacks from Gaza. Israel, however, has been clear that it will not withdraw its troops until Hamas is destroyed.
In recent days, Egyptian and Hamas officials have said that the ceasefire would be phased, with the first stage involving the release of hostages and the second stage being a withdrawal of Israeli troops. The exact details of the deal remain unclear, but it appears that the proposal has the potential to bring an end to the war and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The deal has been welcomed by Palestinians in Gaza, who have been living under siege for months. Aid agencies have been warning of the devastating consequences of an Israeli offensive, which could worsen Gaza’s already dire humanitarian situation and lead to further civilian casualties. The US has also weighed in, with President Joe Biden speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and reiterating his concerns about an invasion of Rafah. The Palestinian territory of Rafah is home to around 1.4 million people who are sheltering in the province, making it a major humanitarian concern.
Critics of an invasion have pointed out that it would disrupt the distribution of aid and could lead to further civilian casualties. Aid agencies have been working to provide assistance to those displaced by the conflict, but conditions in the makeshift camps are dire. The UN says that an attack on Rafah could have severe consequences, including the destruction of vital infrastructure and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.
Despite the concerns, Israel has been determined to press ahead with its plans, citing the need to eliminate Hamas’s military capabilities and prevent future attacks on Israel. However, international mediators have been working tirelessly to broker a ceasefire, and it remains to be seen whether this latest proposal can bring an end to the conflict and allow for the reconstruction of Gaza.