Towards an end to the conflict? Nearly a year after the attacks of October 7, 2023, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby estimated that “a ceasefire agreement was 90% approved” between Israel and Hamas. However, according to him, there remain “very detailed questions” and difficult to resolve.
Along with Qatar and Egypt, the United States, Israel’s main ally, has been making mediation efforts for months to convince the two sides to reach an agreement. In vain.
Israel and the Islamist movement continue to accuse each other of blocking negotiations, at a time when the Israeli army continues its retaliatory offensive in the Gaza Strip which has left tens of thousands dead.
Sticking points
Since the announcement on Sunday of the discovery in Gaza of the bodies of six Israeli hostages, killed at “point-blank range” by Hamas according to the army, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been under strong pressure to reach an agreement allowing the release of the hostages still held in Gaza since October 7.
But the prime minister remains inflexible, having vowed to destroy Hamas, which seized power in Gaza in 2007 and is considered a terrorist movement by the United States and the European Union.
Among the sticking points for a deal: the Philadelphia Corridor, an area on the Gaza-Egypt border that Israel wants to retain control of, as well as the number and identity of Palestinian prisoners to be released by Israel in exchange for the hostages.
“There is no agreement being negotiated,” Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News. “Unfortunately, we are far from achieving that.”
“What we have to do: first, get the hostages out… Second, maintain the red lines that are necessary for Israel’s security and survival, and both of these include maintaining (under Israeli control) the Philadelphia Corridor, because that puts pressure on Hamas, prevents it from rearming and prevents Gaza from becoming an Iranian terrorist enclave again,” he added. Iran, which supports Hamas, is Israel’s sworn enemy.
Hamas insists on implementing as is a plan announced on May 31 by US President Joe Biden, which provides for a six-week truce accompanied by a partial Israeli withdrawal and the release of hostages, then eventually a total Israeli withdrawal from the territory.
- BFMTV.com
