Netanyahu Rejects False Ceasefire Proposal: Analysis and Details

In this time of great horror and criticism of Israel, people do not understand, for a change, that Netanyahu was absolutely right to reject the ceasefire proposal accepted by Hamas. If Netanyahu had accepted this agreement, it would have been a mistake of the same caliber with which he had provided long-term financial support to Hamas (via Qatar).

The Palestinian people rejoiced prematurely when they found out about the Hamas agreement. Anyway, the Israelis didn’t believe what they heard after Hamas “agreed” to the supposed US peace proposal.

The false proposal for a truce is a ruse and a mockery for people who want to see a just end to this terrible war. A Gaza war that could approach or perhaps even surpass the Vietnam War in terms of the number of innocent Palestinian civilian victims.

If Netanyahu had accepted this proposal, the number of deaths in Israel and the thousands of injuries would have been in vain. Israel started this defensive war after the Israelis were devastated and humiliated. They are not allowed a fluff deal.

Hamas leader Yahia al-Sinwar wants Hamas to remain in power. He believes that power is more important than the suffering of his innocent civilians, whom he has badly affected. Netanyahu does not want to end the war until Hamas is defeated militarily. Netanyahu wants to preserve his governing coalition and avoid a political reckoning for his blunders during elections. He also wants to stay in power.

Al Jazeera had access to the document and published it summary of the draft agreement. What are the main points (in summary) for a recommended 126-day break, which is divided into 3 stages:

The first level
In the first critical phase of 42 days, Israeli forces must withdraw eastward from population centers to an as yet undisputed location near the Israeli border. No Israeli drone or aircraft may fly over Gaza for at least 10 hours a day. The Palestinian civilian population that fled is allowed to return and move freely. Humanitarian aid is coming in large numbers. Normal life is restored as much as possible.

Hamas released some of the guards. In the first phase, 33 Israeli hostages are released. In the first three days, Hamas releases 3 hostages. Then every 7 3 days living or dead hostages are given to Israel (sick soldiers, children, wounded, women). Israel releases 40-50 prisoners, including 30 life-sentenced terrorists named by Hamas. At the end of the third week, Israel should arrest a group of terrorists after they were released in exchange for the former enemy Gilad Shalit. (These Hamassers were arrested again after they resumed their military activities.)

The first stage required further negotiation about progress in the second stage.

The second level
Al Jazeera describes it the second level of the agreement as follows:

“A permanent return to calm (a permanent cessation of military and hostile activities) must be announced and come into effect before the exchange of prisoners and prisoners of war – all living people in Israel (civilians and soldiers) – in exchange for the agreed number of prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons and detention camps with a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.”

The third level
In the third stage, remains and living prisoners are exchanged and further agreements are made about reconstruction, compensation, etc. Israel finally stopped the fighting. Barriers are provided.

So much for a summary of the deal.

No trust
The Israelis and Hamas do not even have the beginning of the slightest trust in each other. If the Israelis had been crazy enough to accept this first phase, there would have been no military obstacle for Hamas to take back the entire strip. In addition, it has been reported that a hard core of terrorists has been released, while Hamas is still holding hostages. In that first phase, Hamas would have largely gained the military and political leverage, and Israel would have provided the most important means of pressure. Hamas’s political position is said to be strong, so that Hamas can continue its campaigns against Israel from both Gaza and the West Bank.

Distances are US own
It seems that the Americans (through Matt Miller, spokesman for the State Department on May 7, 2024) are moving themselves away from the text agreed by Hamas and in which there would be extensive Israeli concessions. Matt Miller argued that the text of the agreement was not correct: “That’s not what they (Hamas, MS) did. They responded with changes – call it a counter-proposal if you will – and we’re working on the details of that now. .”

After all the suffering and terrible destruction, this war must end. Despite all the pressure that they and their allies put on the warring parties, it seems that the Americans cannot divert the two combatants from their pre- They are creative. Perhaps also because Sinwar and Netanyahu personally have a lot to lose if the fighting stops without them being a clear winner.