The confrontation of Israel-Ahamas puts Gaza’s fire in danger

The second stage of the Alto Gaza Fire was always in doubt; Now it seems to be dead at the time I was destined to start.

The concern is increasing that the war will return to this devastated territory, deepening the deep suffering of the Palestinians and threatening the lives of the remaining hostages held by Hamas.

Israel, backed by the United States, says there is a new agreement now, after the first phase of the agreement ended on Saturday. And he has stopped all humanitarian aid to Gaza until Hamas also accepts this new version.

“A flagrant violation” was the strongly written response of Cairo. Egypt and Qatar, the two Arab mediators in this process together with the United States, have also accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law by “using food as a weapon of war.”

According to the terms of the agreement, 600 trucks that transport vital humanitarian aid are destined to enter Gaza daily, and large numbers cross during the 42 days of the first phase.

There has also been a strong choir of criticism from other Arab states, as well as humanitarian leaders.

The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, who arrived at Cairo for the Emergency Summit on Tuesday about Gaza’s reconstruction, requested the “immediate” assistance resumption. He urged “all parties to do everything possible to avoid a return to hostilities.”

According to the agreement, which entered into force on January 19, this is the week in which Israel should get his troops from the Philadelphal corridor along the border of Egypt and Gaza and the negotiations should intensify themselves to end the war, return to all the remaining hostages and free more Palestinian prisoners in return.

But Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that American envoy Steve Witkoff has created a new plan.

Witkoff has not announced its proposal yet, but Netanyahu said that the first stage of the Alto El Fuego would extend for another 50 days, to cover the Islamic Sacred Month of Ramadan and the Jewish holidays of Easter, and to continue the negotiations.

Hamas, in return, would immediately release half of the remaining hostages, according to Netanyahu. Israel says that 59 are still captive and it is believed that “up to 24” are alive.

On Monday, Hamas denounced this sudden change as a “a shameless attempt (by Israel) to evade the agreement and avoid celebrating negotiations for the second phase.”

The group considers hostages as their most important leverage and will make all efforts cling to them until this current confrontation ends in terms that are willing to accept.

A day before, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Badr Abdelatty, emphasized: “There is no alternative to the faithful and complete of all parts of what was signed last January.”

The Israeli media have published reports from an Egyptian proposal so that Hamas releases three living hostages and the remains of three others in exchange for an extension of two weeks of the high fire and an Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphous corridor, as well as the main road of Salah-Al-Din del Norte-Sur.

But an Arab diplomat with knowledge of the conversations said that they had not yet resumed in Cairo, although “the technical teams are in constant discussion.”

There would always be a dangerous confrontation at this time.

The main objective of Prime Minister Netanyahu has always been to “destroy” the military force and political grip of Hamas.

His highly choreographed ceremonies and his sample of strength during hostages have angered the Israelis and stressed that, although it has been significantly weakened, Hamas is still in charge in Gaza.

The Arab diplomatic sources say that although Hamas has accepted, it will not be involved in the management of Gaza once this war ends, it will not dismantle what remains of its influence.

That is unacceptable for Israel, and for its most important ally, the United States.

On Sunday, the United States National Security Council provided its full support for the “next step” of Israel. He firmly blamed Hamas, saying that the group “had indicated that he is no longer interested in a high negotiated fire.”

In a video speech, Prime Minister Netanyahu described President Donald Trump as “the best friend Israel has had in the White House.”

But Israeli media say that Washington is also pressing the Israeli leader not to restart the fight.

It is widely recognized that this type of arm sprained has brought the Fire Alto Agreement on the line even before the Trump team entered the White House on January 20.

The pressure also increases from the Israelis more and more anxious to see that all hostages return home.

On Sunday night, hundreds of protesters broke the police barriers outside the residence of the Prime Minister in Jerusalem.

The president of the United States, praised by his supporters as “the best peacemaker in the world” could again shape the parameters of war or peace.

Meanwhile, both parties are preparing to resume the fight while weighing their options to win a peace in their terms.