Recently, there have been indications that a new pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip could be possible. This potential breakthrough, however, hinges on a shift in Hamas’s public stance. Until now, Hamas has insisted that it will only release more Israeli hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. But with the arrival of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Cairo, along with a high-level delegation, for talks with Egypt’s intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, there is a level of seriousness in the air. Egypt and Qatar, both playing crucial roles in mediation efforts, helped secure a week-long truce last month.
Israel, on the other hand, continues to maintain that the war in Gaza will only end when its goal of dismantling Hamas, which has governed the region since 2007, is achieved. Mainstream Israeli media reports have revealed that Israel has presented a plan to mediators that could lead to the release of around 30 to 40 hostages. The proposed plan prioritizes the remaining women, as well as elderly individuals and those in urgent need of medical care, for potential exchange with Palestinians held in Israeli prisons who have been convicted of more serious offenses than those previously released in a previous deal. It is believed that a truce, if successful, could last for a week or two.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his country’s readiness for “another humanitarian pause, and additional humanitarian aid in order to enable the release of hostages” during a meeting with foreign diplomats. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also echoed the sentiment, stating that “retrieving them is a top goal” after meeting with families of hostages held in captivity in Gaza. Additionally, Netanyahu revealed that the head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency had been actively working to promote a new release deal, including meetings with the Qatari prime minister in Poland.
Nevertheless, skepticism remains among the families of the remaining hostages, as well as the broader public, regarding Israel’s claims that only strong military pressure on Hamas will bring them to the negotiating table. This skepticism has intensified following the accidental killing of three hostages by Israeli forces. Hamas and the smaller armed faction Islamic Jihad have further fueled this atmosphere of doubt by releasing two videos featuring a total of five men still held captive, pleading to be brought home. The men appear visibly thin and express fear of becoming victims of Israel’s ongoing bombardment.
Next week, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, the head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, is also expected to travel to Cairo with other senior officials from the group, indicating their interest in playing a role in the negotiations. It is estimated that more than 100 hostages are still alive in Gaza, even after the release of 105 Israeli women and children in late November. Prior to the November release, four hostages were freed, and one was rescued by Israeli troops. Furthermore, the deaths of over 20 individuals who had been held by Hamas have been confirmed by the Israeli prime minister’s office.
At the global level, calls for a complete ceasefire, including at the UN General Assembly, have been growing. Local health officials in Gaza, under the control of Hamas, report a death toll nearing 20,000, with the UN estimating that 1.9 million residents out of a total population of 2.3 million have been displaced or lost their homes. Concerns about the limited scope for aid agencies to provide assistance are mounting. “Amid displacement at an unimaginable scale and active hostilities, the humanitarian response system is on the brink,” highlighted Tor Wennesland, the UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, during his address to the Security Council on Tuesday.
While the UN deems that much more needs to be done, a new pause in fighting could, at the very least, facilitate an increase in aid delivery and distribution. With the potential for a temporary truce, humanitarian organizations would have an opportunity to provide much-needed relief to the affected population. Delayed UN Gaza vote and growing calls for ceasefire underscore the urgency of finding a resolution. The stories of the hostages taken by Hamas from Israel have attracted international attention, shedding light on the human toll of the conflict. It is imperative for all parties involved to approach the negotiations with sincerity and a genuine commitment to securing a lasting peace.
