Description: The office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has issued a statement claiming that the latest proposal for a ceasefire accepted by Hamas was nothing but a political spin and renounced any reconciliation until Israel’s Gaza offensive is finished. The rejection arrives days after Israel’s far – right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, approved extensive plans for territorial annexations in the West Bank. The UAE, had claimed that Israeli plans to annex larger parts of the West Bank constituted as war crimes and undermined the potential of the provisions outlined in the Abraham Accords. Hamas confirmed the group’s approval for the latest ceasefire proposal, after US President Donald Trump published on Truth Social that the war would end if all the Israeli hostages are released.
Impact: Israel remains reluctant to engage in negotiations for the proposed ceasefire and consistently intensifies the warfare narrative, having a substantial upper hand on the ground in Gaza. The US continues to support Israel’s operations despite President Trump’s statements that the war could end if Hamas agrees to all the sticking points in the US proposed ceasefire. Currently, there are no indications for a potential diplomatic breakthrough as Israel continues its ground offensive in Gaza and annexation plans in the West Bank regardless of the mounting public pressure and widespread international criticism. The possibility of Israel reversing course on its ground operations remains low for the time being, unless a combined effort of pressure from the US and backchannel talks draws Israel back towards the negotiating table.