With President Joe Biden calling for a ceasefire in Gaza last week, it is seeming that the war in the east is coming to a head, as leaders begin negotiating at least a temporary peace. This last Sunday, April 7, peace negotiations resumed as both Israeli leaders and a Hamas delegation headed to Egypt, under their invitation to host this talk. Under pressure both foreign and domestically, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is under heat for how they have been handling the war and are now looking to find a compromise that will appease everyone.
The Saturday before, thousands of Israelis took to the streets once again to protest their government. Their demands have been to get fresh elections and to negotiate the return of all remaining hostages from Hamas. This could be the biggest issue for Netanyahu as although he seems willing to negotiate, there are claims that Hamas is not willing to and is instead waiting for pressure to capitulate Israel. However, one of his goals is still to eliminate Hamas completely, which is still dampening relations between the two groups.
Beyond domestic pressure, the Israeli government is also facing external pressure from its allies to come to a ceasefire. The biggest change is the United States, as Biden threatens to reassess the United States’ support unless there are major changes done to how the war is handled. Biden’s main concern is the humanitarian aspects of the fight and protecting aid workers. This came as a response to the killing of seven World Central Kitchen workers by Israel and how they have been treating Palestinian civilians. The White House has also been dealing with a growing frustration with Netanyahu’s neglectful attitude when it comes to civilian casualties and how they claim he is easily willing to ignore them. However, even though the United States has become a supporter and pusher for the ceasefire, they are still holding onto the fact that Hamas needs to release their 135 Israeli hostages.
Speaking from the other side, Hamas is hoping that, through these negotiations, a ceasefire can happen in two days during Eid al-Fitr, an Islamic holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan. They still hold strong with their position on the hostage negotiations and release, with them still wanting a full withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Gaza strip, the return of displaced Palestinians to the Northern part of Gaza and the exchange of Palestinian hostages. They wish only to restore a sense of peace and create a status quo with the Israelis and are very willing to support a ceasefire if they are given what they want as well.
At this point, there has been no definitive news coming out of Egypt in terms of a ceasefire. However both parties are optimistic that the other will be accepting to their terms, we will see if the optimism is true.
