Nearly a week after Hamas accepted the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal from Qatari and Egyptian mediators, Israel has yet to respond. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims he is starting negotiations to release all the hostages and end the war immediately. This silence reflects a shift in Israel's approach, moving from partial to comprehensive agreements, which has left many confused.
Netanyahu's demand for a comprehensive deal comes as he accelerates plans for a massive military assault on Gaza City, aiming to negotiate while waging war to defeat Hamas. The latest proposal on the table calls for a temporary ceasefire in exchange for the release of half of the hostages, a shift from previous agreements.
Despite Netanyahu's call for negotiations, he continues to advance plans for a military assault on Gaza City. Israel attributes Hamas' concessions to the threat of military pressure, believing it will make Hamas more flexible to accept Israel's conditions to end the war.
The US administration, particularly President Donald Trump, has expressed support for Israel's actions in Gaza, adopting a stance aiming to destroy Hamas rather than pushing for a temporary ceasefire. Trump's public statements align with Netanyahu's shift towards a comprehensive negotiation framework.
Netanyahu's government approved conditions to end the war, including disarmament of Hamas, release of all hostages, demilitarization of Gaza, and the establishment of an alternative civil administration. However, Hamas has drawn a red line at any notion of disarming, complicating the negotiation process.
Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners oppose any ceasefire or end to the war, pressuring him to expand the conflict. The families of the remaining hostages in Gaza have accused the government of sacrificing their loved ones by delaying or dismissing the partial agreement on the table.
As tensions escalate between Netanyahu's government and the hostage families, protests have intensified, with families accusing the government of being deaf to their pleas. Netanyahu's office has indicated plans to send a negotiation team once a location is set for talks, allowing him to pursue a dual strategy of making statements about ending the war while escalating military actions.
