Description: In his third visit to the White House, since Donald Trump became US President, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is weighing his country’s options for potentially forwarding the US ceasefire proposal. Trump hosted Netanyahu in the White House, where they reportedly discussed the conditions of the ceasefire and the latest amendments demanded by Hamas. Negotiators from Israel and Hamas separately engaged in Qatari and Egyptian mediated talks in Doha where over the course of two days no significant breakthroughs were reported. Hamas disputed the proposal for lacking to provide a terminal solution to the war, citing reasons such as allowing the UN to deliver large supplies of aid to the enclave and the part regarding the guarantees provided by the US that Israel won’t regress towards violence once the hostage exchanges were completed. Separate document procured by several media outlets claimed that Netanyahu submitted a proposal directly to Trump for the dislocation of Palestinians from Gaza through the formation of Humanitarian Transit Areas, where people would be temporarily housed in camps and tents and subsequently relocated to other countries. Hamas in the meantime attacked an Israeli military convoy killing five soldiers and wounding several others. Negotiations in Doha would continue through Tuesday, with official conclusions from Netanyahu’s visit to Washington still pending.
Impact: The ceasefire proposal continues to be fueled with uncertainties as it clings to the diplomatic and political will of the negotiating teams and constant and fluctuating positions from both Israel and Hamas. Israel holds all the advantage, controlling approximately two thirds of the Gaza Strip and its incentive to be invested into the ceasefire solely depends on the political transactions between Trump and Netanyahu. Hamas remained adamant in their demands as their ultimate leverage in the negotiations are the remaining hostages, as the militant organization would aim at ensuring an end to the war before agreeing towards commitments outlined in the ceasefire proposal. The negotiations are still ongoing, and the future lifespan of the ceasefire remains under severe risk of faltering with differences of opinion on language and commitment reassurances failing to bridge the gap between war and peace in the enclave. In case Israel, in at least partial terms, accepts Hamas’ amendments, the ceasefire proposal would move forward, however, still failing to provide any reassurances of continued peace in the region.