Gaza Talks at Critical Moment, Demand for Israeli Withdrawal Intensifies
Negotiations regarding the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip have reached a critical
moment, according to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. The Prime Minister, along with Egypt, the guarantors of the ceasefire, have called for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and urged the deployment of an international stabilization force to fully implement the truce.
Background
The nearly two-month-old ceasefire has largely halted fighting, but reports suggest over 360 deaths in Gaza since it began. The guarantors of the truce, Qatar and Egypt, stated that the ceasefire remains incomplete without the withdrawal of Israeli forces. The current halt in fighting is described as a pause, not a full ceasefire, without the withdrawal.
Key Developments
Speaking at the Doha Forum conference in Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani emphasized the need to move to the next phase of the ceasefire. "Now we are at the critical moment ... A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of the Israeli forces, [and] there is stability back in Gaza,” he said. His sentiments were echoed by the Turkish foreign minister who stated that disarmament of Hamas should only come after the deployment of an international force, a move that Egypt supports and urges 'as soon as possible.'
During the first phase of the ceasefire, Israeli forces moved back behind a designated yellow line
inside Gaza, while Hamas freed the remaining living hostages in its custody and returned the bodies of all but one of the deceased captives.
Implications and Reactions
The call for the Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of an international force is seen as the crucial next step in fully implementing the fragile agreement, a move supported by the United States and the United Nations. The peace plan, backed by the US and the UN, would see the deployment of an international stabilization force acting as peacekeepers.
Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, speaking at the Doha Forum, described the current ceasefire as fragile
and emphasized the urgency of deploying the proposed stabilization force. He stated that the Gaza stabilization force and the Board of Peace must be put in place this month, adding that the ceasefire “cannot hold for many more weeks in its current phase."
Conclusion
The truce remains delicate as Israel and Hamas accuse each other of breaching its terms. Mediators are now working to advance the next phase of the ceasefire, which outlines the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of an international stabilization force, steps deemed essential to fully carry out the agreement. As the negotiations reach a critical point, the international community looks on in the hope of a lasting resolution.