Jul. 12, 2025 |
The Gaza gambit. This week, there was a pivotal moment in ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met twice with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, while Israeli and Hamas negotiators engaged in proximity talks in Doha. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff reported that three of four major sticking points had been resolved, expressing optimism for a 60-day ceasefire deal “by the end of this week.” The proposed agreement would see Hamas release 10 hostages and 18 bodies in exchange for a temporary truce, a surge of humanitarian aid, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
However, the fundamental impasse remains unchanged: Hamas demands guarantees that the ceasefire will lead to a permanent end to the war, while Israel insists on completing its military objectives against Hamas. Netanyahu, emboldened by recent U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, told Congress that Israel “still has to finish the job in Gaza” and eliminate Hamas’s military and governance capabilities. Meanwhile, Israeli forces expanded ground operations in northern Gaza’s Beit Hanoun, where five soldiers were killed in an ambush, and continued deadly strikes across Gaza during the diplomatic meetings. Israeli officials claimed 80-90 percent of the deal terms were settled, but acknowledged the core issue of ending the war remained unresolved.
Why do ceasefire negotiations in Gaza seem to keep cycling through the same deadlock?