Seth J. Frantzman
Jerusalem Post, June 1, 2024
“The current ceasefire plan is a plan to keep Hamas in power. The result will be that Hamas will return to running most of Gaza in the coming years and the reconstruction effort will likely empower Hamas as it has in the past.”
US President Joe Biden laid out a three-part ceasefire proposal on Friday. The proposal appears to leave Hamas in power in Gaza and could lead to Hamas benefiting via reconstruction. However, Israel has also defined its goals in Gaza in such a flexible way, without a clear strategy, that Hamas may be left in power under Israel’s current plan.
“At this point, Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another October 7, just one of Israel’s main objectives in this war, and quite frankly a righteous one,” Biden said at the White House, according to CNN. The plan would lead to a “full and complete ceasefire,” and release of hostages.
Israeli forces would withdraw from populated areas of Gaza and Hamas would release a “number” of hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. This same deal has been on the table for months and Hamas has been stringing Israel along, hoping pressure from other countries, such as Qatar and Egypt, could lead to Hamas getting better terms.
US turns to the international community to pressure Hamas to hostage deal.
The current proposal by the US mentioned an “exchange for the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers…and as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire would become, in the words of the Israeli proposals, ‘the cessation of hostilities permanently.’” Then there would be a “major reconstruction plan for Gaza.” … [To read the full article, click here]
