The sun sets on the ruins of Rafah: hopes for peace are now placed in Biden’s peace plan – Ansa
«Permanent ceasefire», «withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza», «reconstruction and prisoner exchange». Hamas summarily enumerates the points of the Road map, desired by Biden and presented by Israel. It is a first evaluation, waiting for the document, so far flaunted in front of the media, to be delivered through the “sherpas” of Qatar.
The Islamic Resistance Movement “positively evaluates” the truce proposalsay Hamas representatives in Doha, but the final decision lies with Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, respectively political leader of Hamas within the Strip and head of the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. An outstretched hand, with the desire to “go and see” the cards.
Certainly less possible Islamic Jihad: for the second armed group in the Gaza Strip, “the position of the American administration has changed”, even if it remains “completely unbalanced towards the Zionist entity”, because it continues to cover up its “crimes” and participate in “the aggression” . Not an encouraging premise, although Islamic Jihad will evaluate any proposal that “ensures an end to the genocidal war against our people” and preserves “our rights” and respects the “demands of the resistance.” L’Anp instead, with a note, he asked to have all the border crossings with the Gaza Strip under his control, based on theCrossing Access Agreement 2005.
A real negotiation has yet to begin and also Netanyahu flexes his muscles, probably more for reasons internal to Israel than with negotiations in mind. Israel, says a statement from its political officedid not change the conditions for ending the war: «The destruction of Hamas’ military and government capabilities», the «release of all hostages» and having guarantees that Gaza «no longer represents a threat to Israel». Netanyahu, even more pushed into a corner after war cabinet minister Benny Gantz called for the dissolution of the Knesset in recent days, does not want to show any sign of yielding to public opinion. Gantz yesterday called for convening the war cabinet as soon as possible. An appeal not to ignore “President Biden’s important speech” came yesterday from the leader of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid.
But it is above all in Washington that the accelerator is pressed to seize what Joe Biden called a “decisive moment” on Friday. An appeal with a strong geopolitical weight, which collided with the frantic pre-election debate and the echo of Donald Trump’s conviction in the trial against the porn star Stormy Daniels. A resolution of the crisis in Gaza would be a huge success before the vote. A plan which the White House reveals to Axios a senior official, informed war cabinet member Benny Gantz and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in advance. A Road map, that of Biden, supported by Aipac, the influential American Jewish lobby which, underlining that the ball is now in Hamas’s court which must give an answer, asked in a note to “all members of Congress” to “strongly support the Israeli government’s latest effort.” But yesterday above all the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has been very active in seeking contacts: returning from the NATO summit in Prague, he had separate telephone conversations with the Foreign Ministers ofSaudi Arabia, Türkiye and Jordan. The Prime Minister of Qatar, again in a phone call with Blinken, expressed hope that all parties will seek an agreement.
“We have the opportunity to end the war in the Gaza Strip, bring the hostages home and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people with the ceasefire agreement that is on the table.”the US Secretary of State wrote on X, adding: «Hamas should accept the agreement».
A chorus of consensus, a chorus of encouragement from Western leaders to the Biden proposal, in the hope that the massacre of civilians can be stopped – the total number of victims in Gaza since 7 October, according to Hamas Health, while 15 missiles launched from Lebanon have hit Northern Israel – waiting for the US and Israeli delegations as well as the Egyptian hosts to meet today in Cairo, according to media rumours.
French President Emmanuel Macron is lapidary: «The war in Gaza must end. We support the American proposal for a lasting peace.” The Israeli road map towards a ceasefire in Gaza, for the president of the EU Commission Von der Leyen, represents a “significant opportunity” to end the war with a “balanced and realistic approach”. A proposal that represents a “glimmer of hope” for German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, while British Prime Minister Sunak, in the event that Hamas accepts the agreement, says he is ready to “flood Gaza with aid”.
