ENDLESS WAR

The war between Israel and the Palestinian radical movement Hamas continues. Eleven months after the onset of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, the conflict remains intense, and with diametrically opposed positions from both sides, all peace initiatives—primarily originating from interested external powers—are doomed to failure.

Assassination of Hostages

On September 1, Israel announced that its military had discovered the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas in an underground tunnel in the Rafah area. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that, according to preliminary assessments, they had been "brutally killed by Hamas terrorists shortly before we were able to reach them." Israeli President Isaac Herzog apologized to the families of the deceased hostages "for not being able to bring them home safely."

This tragic development concerning the hostages once again highlights the profound hostility between the parties involved in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which is currently experiencing one of its bloodiest chapters.

In response to Hamas's attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and an additional 251 Israelis taken captive, the IDF launched a large-scale military operation in the Gaza Strip. This operation has now lasted nearly a year, with over 40,000 Palestinians killed and nearly 95,000 injured during this time. A significant portion of those killed and injured are civilians. Almost the entire population of the strip, totalling 2.3 million people, has been displaced. Gaza, reduced to ruins, is undergoing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis marked by famine and disease.

Israel has inflicted severe damage on Hamas's military capabilities and infrastructure; however, it is evident that the Israeli state's objective of destroying the radical Palestinian group has not been achieved. Each day of warfare brings new casualties among civilians, underscoring the urgent need for a ceasefire in the horrific carnage that plagues Gaza.

Meanwhile, ongoing negotiations between Hamas and Israel through mediators—primarily the US, Qatar, and Egypt—have yielded no tangible results over the past several months. Consequently, no agreement has yet been reached on crucial issues such as a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

One of the sticking points in negotiations is Israel's desire to maintain its forces in the so-called Philadelphi Corridor, a strategically significant strip along Gaza's border with Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position is based on the belief that "achieving the war's objectives occurs through the Philadelphi Corridor," primarily meaning that control over this corridor prevents the removal of hostages from Gaza and the transfer of weapons to Hamas.

However, the most contentious disagreements pertain to hostages. Specifically, they involve the specific names of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails who must be released in exchange for the freedom of Israeli hostages. Resolving this issue is essential for reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Nonetheless, information regarding the discovery of the bodies of six hostages has brought the current negotiation process to the brink of complete failure. In this situation, much will depend on the determination of the key mediator—the administration of US President Joe Biden. Seeking to accumulate both domestic and foreign political points amid an election campaign in the US, it expresses a willingness to exert pressure on both Israel and Hamas that could bring the sides closer to reaching a ceasefire agreement.

Increasingly Hardline Positions

It is evident that while the United States remains a strategic ally of Israel and provides it with maximum military support, it is nonetheless seeking certain compromises from Netanyahu's government. Without these compromises, an agreement with Hamas seems nearly impossible.

Considering Hamas's categorical refusal to agree to terms unless Israel completely withdraws from Gaza—including both the Philadelphi and Nitzarim corridors that divide the strip—Washington has made it clear that any agreements on a ceasefire must include the withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza's border with Egypt. US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby emphasised that the principles for a ceasefire proposed by President Biden and supported by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735 "include pulling the Israeli army out of all densely populated areas, including areas along and adjacent to the Philadelphi Corridor."

Kirby's statement came a day after Netanyahu asserted that Israel would never withdraw its troops from this section of the border between Palestine and Egypt. The negative response from President Biden regarding whether he believes Prime Minister Netanyahu is doing enough to secure a peace deal further indicates existing disagreements between the U.S. and Israel. Commenting on Biden's statement, Netanyahu urged that "pressure should be applied to Hamas, not Israel." He also reaffirmed his position that "the war in Gaza will end when Hamas is expelled from this territory."

Meanwhile, while Washington continues working towards achieving a Palestinian-Israeli deal, it does not hide its frustration at how "Hamas and Israel are adopting increasingly hardline positions in negotiations." It urges both sides to "make difficult choices and engage in tough compromises." After all, challenges for Netanyahu are not only growing on the external front.

Protests Against Netanyahu

Following the discovery of the bodies of six hostages, mass protests erupted across Israel. These protests demand an immediate ceasefire and the release of remaining live hostages still held by Hamas. The organizer of these protests, which have attracted nearly half a million participants, is the Forum of Hostage Families. Concurrently, Israel's trade union federation—Histadrut Klalit—has declared a general strike. Protesters are urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to "take responsibility for abandoning hostages to fate."

At the same time, there is a deep division within Netanyahu's own government. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has emerged as a dissenting voice against the Prime Minister's policies, asserting that "Netanyahu's military objective of total victory over Hamas is utter nonsense." He even acknowledged that "the reason negotiations for releasing hostages have stalled partly lies with Israel." Commenting on Israel's choice between a ceasefire agreement and escalating war in Gaza, Gallant stated: "I and everyone in the defence ministry support the former option." Additionally, he opposes maintaining Israeli troops in the Philadelphi Corridor.

Gallant's statements do not imply that he is acting as a "dove." Instead, his disagreement with Netanyahu reflects the deep schism within Israel, where even staunch opponents of Hamas are compelled to acknowledge the urgent need for an end to hostilities in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu remains steadfast in his militant stance. Accusing Gallant of "anti-Israel rhetoric" that "undermines chances for reaching a deal," Netanyahu reiterated that Israel's war objectives remain "total victory," destruction of Hamas, and liberation of remaining hostages. The office of Israel's Prime Minister characterized this as "a clear directive from Prime Minister Netanyahu and the security cabinet, binding all—including Gallant."

Recent days have been marked not only by shocking news regarding the killing of Israeli hostages but also by new strikes from IDF on Gaza, resulting in casualties among dozens of civilians. All these developments push further away any prospects for achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians, which—given escalating tensions involving Israel with both Lebanon and Iran—maintains a potential for a vast geopolitical explosion throughout the Middle East.