Do Trump And Netanyahu See Eye To Eye On Gaza's Endgame?
(MENAFN- Asia Times)
The brittle Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues against all odds, given the depth of distrust and animosity between the warring parties.
Since its enactment nearly three weeks ago, Hamas has released more than a dozen Israeli hostages captured on October 7, 2023, in return for some 400 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Should the process move forward as relatively smoothly as it has so far, more hostages and prisoners are set to be freed during the remainder of the first stage of the truce.
This is cause for a degree of optimism. However, negotiating the length, terms and implementation of the second and third stages of the ceasefire will prove very rocky.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for instance, has already declared the ceasefire to be“temporary.”
During the second stage, all Israeli hostages (alive and dead) are supposed to be freed in exchange for hundreds of prisoners. Israel is also expected to withdraw all its forces from Gaza as a prelude to the reconstruction of the coastal enclave in the final stage of the ceasefire.
There are many issues that could derail the process, two of which are crucial:
Israel's unrealized goal of wiping out Hamas and securing Gaza for itself
Hamas' resolve to regain sovereign control over Gaza.
Another factor is the influence of the new US president, Donald Trump. While Netanyahu has the full support of Trump, it remains unclear how much appetite the US leader has for more conflict in the Middle East.
A meeting between the two in Washington this week could be pivotal to the success of the next phase of the ceasefire – or the resumption of the Gaza war.
Palestinians pass the rubble of destroyed buildings on a road in Gaza City this week. Photo: Mohammed Saber / EPA
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