Israel’s Tel Aviv For a possible cease-fire deal with Hamas, Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, has said that time is running out. During the six weeks of peace, he thinks, shooting could stop and calm down on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
The brief cease-fire, Gallant told reporters, might free many of the prisoners that Hamas is holding. A deal might be possible, but he made it clear that Israel would not promise to stop fighting for good. To get the prisoners back, Gallant said, Israel should come to a deal for six weeks. Following that, he said, “We will still have the freedom to act and reach our objectives, which may include destroying Hamas.”
Talks are still going on.
A cease-fire has been sought by the US, Egypt, and Qatar for several months now. The fact that Hamas wants the war to end completely and Israeli troops to leave Gaza has been a big problem. Along the same lines, Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has said that Israeli soldiers must permanently remain in a key area near the border between Gaza and Egypt. There have been differences within Israel’s government about Gallant’s suggestion that Israel might temporarily pull back its troops to make sure the prisoners are safe.
To make it clear, Gallant told foreign reporters that as defense minister, the safety of Israel is his top concern. With a six-week cease-fire as the first step, the current U.S.-backed plan is made up of three parts. Israel would free Palestinian prisoners, pull its troops out of Palestinian areas, and let people who had to leave their homes go back during this time. Hamas would free some of the 70 hostages who are thought to be still living. The area would also get much-needed relief help.
Things that make it hard to agree
Tensions still exist, though. For the US, the fact that Hamas wants to change the deal is a big problem. The second part of the plan, which calls for an end to all fighting, isn’t clear whether it can be carried out because Gallant has doubts about Hamas’s goals. It was important for Gallant that Israel free the prisoners and get rid of Hamas’s danger, but he also said that the group could get back together and keep fighting, which made long-term peace unclear.
After Israel’s military victories in Gaza and Lebanon, Gallant also asked for more pressure to be put on Hamas, saying that now is the time to secure the first part of the deal. Some Israelis who had to leave their homes near the border with Lebanon could go back to them if there were a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah. Many people are afraid of a bigger war between Israel and Hezbollah because of the daily fighting. Thousands of Israeli and Lebanese civilians have been forced to leave their homes.
Important for Strategy
Gallant thinks that finding a short-term solution to the fighting could help Israel’s safety in many ways. In order to stop the shooting for a short time, foreign officials are working on ways to bring the two sides together, but Hamas is not likely to agree to a partial deal that includes giving up prisoners. Joe Biden, the vice president of the United States, is hopeful that an agreement can be hit.
Israelis are putting pressure on the government to make a deal, especially since Hamas killed six prisoners earlier this month as Israeli troops closed in on their location. Gallant said that the current situation is like a “strategic junction.” Both a cease-fire and a bigger war that could include Hezbollah and Iran are possible outcomes. He also said, “We are capable of defending ourselves and retaliating if necessary,” which means that Israel is still ready for anything. Any important target in Iran can be hit.
Care for Humanity
Thousands and thousands of people have had to leave their houses, and health services have broken down because of Israel’s attack in Gaza. Israel is working with foreign help groups on a scheme to vaccinate a lot of people to stop polio spread to deal with the problem. Gallant also talked about his new advice group, which will work to make important things better in Gaza, like food, water, energy, and medical care.
Read More Update Follow The Update Times
