U.S. and Middle Eastern mediators appeared optimistic in recent days that
they were close
to a deal for a two-month ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of more than 100 hostages held by Hamas.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday rejected
Hamas's two main demands
— that Israel withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip and release thousands of Palestinian prisoners — indicating that
a wide rift remains between the two sides
.
The war began after Hamas' Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, in which fighters killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 more hostage.
About half of the hostages were freed during a week-long ceasefire last November in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel's offensive has killed
more than 26,700 Palestinians
, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, whose count does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
About 85% of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have fled their homes.
And the UN pointed out that a quarter of the population
suffers from hunger.
The conflict has also generated
repercussions throughout the region
.
Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen have attacked Israeli and US targets in support of the Palestinians, triggering retaliation in
a spiral of violence
that could trigger a regional confrontation.
Below is a look at
the position of each of the parties
to end the conflict:
Netanyahu seeks "total victory"
The Israeli prime minister has promised on several occasions that
he will continue the war
until Israel destroys Hamas' military and government capabilities and frees all hostages,
two goals that are increasingly difficult to achieve
and that many Israelis fear are mutually exclusive. .
In a speech Tuesday at a pre-military religious academy located in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel, Netanyahu stated that “we will not withdraw the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip and we will not free thousands of terrorists.”
That would seem to rule out any agreement with Hamas, but it could also be a stance aimed at
shoring up Israel's position in the
indirect negotiations taking place.
Netanyahu is under increasing pressure from the families of the hostages.
Photo: Reuters
Netanyahu is under
increasing pressure from the hostages' families
and the general public to reach an agreement with Hamas for the hostages' return.
Many Israelis fear that time is running out.
At the same time, his
governing coalition
— dominated by hardline ultranationalists who oppose a deal —
could crumble
if he is perceived to be being too lenient toward Hamas.
Israeli military forces
have only successfully rescued one hostage
, and Hamas says several have died in Israeli attacks or during botched rescue operations.
In December, Israeli forces
mistakenly killed three hostages
who had escaped and were waving a white flag.
Hamas wants an end to the war
Hamas has refused to release any more hostages
until Israel ends its offensive
and withdraws from Gaza.
It seeks a broader agreement that includes
a long-term truce and reconstruction
.
The group's top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said Tuesday that his priority
is the “complete withdrawal”
of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
He commented that any agreement should also lead to
reconstruction
, the
lifting of the Egyptian-Israeli blockade
on the territory and the release of
“all
our heroic prisoners.”
Hamas is believed to be holding hostages
in deep,
heavily guarded tunnels, using them as human shields for its top leaders and as bargaining chips for the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners.
Among the latter are high-level fighters involved in attacks in which Israeli civilians were killed.
If Hamas releases the hostages without ending the war,
it would be exposed to an
even larger Israeli attack once the ceasefire expires.
Failure to secure a meaningful prisoner swap could come with strong criticism from Palestinians following unprecedented death and destruction in the small coastal enclave.
Unprecedented destruction in the small coastal enclave of Gaza.
Photo: JACK GUEZ / AFP
On the other hand, if Hamas achieves a long-term truce, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of thousands of prisoners,
it would be seen as the victor of the war
, at least by its supporters.
Mediators seek a middle ground
The United States, which has provided crucial military aid to the Israeli offensive, largely supports Israel's war goals.
He wants
all the hostages released
and guarantees that Hamas will not be able to carry out an attack like the one on October 7 again.
But President Joe Biden's administration also has
a strong interest in ending a war that has generated regional instability
and divided Democratic voters during an election year.
Arab countries, including main mediators
Egypt and Qatar
, have insisted on a ceasefire since the early days of the war, fearing further instability.
Palestinians flee the city of Khan Yunis towards southern Gaza.
Photo: AP
The United States and Arab mediators
appear to be seeking a middle ground
in which the hostages are
released in phases
over a
two-month
period in exchange for Palestinian prisoners,
more urgent humanitarian aid is allowed into Gaza,
and
a withdrawal part
of the Israeli forces.
A two-month respite could
buy some time
to negotiate a broader agreement to address the long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
American and Arab diplomats have talked about a possible grand deal in which
Saudi Arabia would recognize Israel and
join other Arab countries and the Western-recognized Palestinian Authority in helping rebuild and govern Gaza, in exchange for a credible path to
the creation of a Palestinian State alongside Israel.
But Netanyahu, whose government opposes a Palestinian state, and Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel,
have also ruled out that possibility.