There were reports recently quoting an Egyptian official as claiming “significant progress” had been made in negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Hamas negotiators later confirmed “in-depth discussions” had been held in Cairo.
Even Ismail Haniyeh, its most senior political leader, declared on Sunday that Hamas was “keen” to reach a comprehensive cease-fire agreement. But the negotiations have yet to show signs of a breakthrough as the two sides have continued to exchange fire and Israel threatens to launch an offensive push into Rafah.
The latest development is only additional proof that the Gaza conflict is far from ending, and a permanent solution will be out of the question without all stakeholders coming to terms with the truth of the matter that so long as Israel and Hamas perceive each other to be existential threats, no cease-fire will hold for long. No solution will prove permanent. Both have made no secret about their goal of erasing the other from the map. For all the negotiations on prisoner-for-hostage swaps or on a cease-fire, no progress has been made in this regard.
But the world is overwhelmingly focusing on the humanitarian tragedy resulting from Israel’s military onslaught. The head of the World Food Program just appealed for an end to the fighting, warning of a “full-blown famine” in northern Gaza. The head of the World Health Organization has also warned that “a full-scale military operation in Rafah … could lead to a bloodbath”. And Rafah happens to be a major logistics hub for humanitarian aid. Even US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that without a credible plan to protect civilians, the United States could not support “a major military operation going into Rafah because the damage it would do is beyond what’s acceptable”.
Hamas’ latest pro-cease-fire stance following its recent talks with Fatah in Beijing has led many to assume the ball is now in Israel’s court. Hamas’ conditions for a cease-fire are that Israel end its “aggression”, guarantee the withdrawal of its forces from Gaza, and a hostage-swap deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war Cabinet, however, are determined to press ahead with the planned elimination of Hamas, whatever it takes. To them, Hamas’ present interest in a cease-fire is only buying time for it to regroup, and that is the last thing Israel wants. Netanyahu has refused to bow to the international pressure to halt the war, dismissing the key Hamas demand of the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as being equal to surrender. While claiming that Israel has shown it is willing to make concessions, the Israeli leader stressed that its military operations will continue until it has achieved its goal of eradicating Hamas. So despite the earlier signs of progress toward a cease-fire, it seems any hopes that one would be forthcoming were just wishful thinking.
According to Arab media, the talks between Hamas and Fatah in late April, hosted by Beijing, successfully bridged their differences and they are expected to hold another round of talks in Beijing in mid-June, with the aim of forming an interim, non-factional, national Palestinian government. As Beijing has stressed, it is the perpetual denial of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people that is the root cause of the conflict. The establishment of an independent State of Palestine that peacefully coexists with Israel is the only way to end the long cycle of violence between the Israelis and Palestinians. China will continue to strengthen cooperation with the international community in pursuit of this objective.
