As Israel grapples with mounting pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza, an unnamed minister from Benjamin Netanyahu's own party has made a startling claim. The official stated that the Prime Minister would only push for a deal with Hamas "when the streets are burning," suggesting that peaceful protests might be insufficient to sway Netanyahu's position.
This revelation comes as Israel faces a national general strike, initiated on March 4, 2024, aimed at pressuring Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire. The strike follows the tragic killing of six hostages by Hamas on March 2, 2024, further intensifying the already tense situation.
The minister, speaking to Haaretz newspaper, expressed that Netanyahu currently fears hard-Right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich more than the families of the hostages. This statement has fueled accusations that Netanyahu is deliberately sabotaging ceasefire talks to appease his coalition partners.
A major point of contention in the negotiations is the control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a 14 km strip along the Gaza-Egypt border. Netanyahu's security cabinet insists on Israeli control to prevent arms smuggling, while Hamas official Basem Naim stated unequivocally that there would be "no compromise" on this issue.
"When it comes to the corridor, there is no compromise. There will be no ceasefire deal without solving this problem."
The United States, under President Joe Biden, has intensified efforts to broker a ceasefire. The White House confirmed that Biden would hold fresh talks with negotiators on March 4, 2024. Notably, the US, Egypt, and Qatar are preparing to present a final "take it or leave it" deal to both parties in the coming weeks.
A senior US official emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the negotiation process "has to be called at some point." This push for resolution comes against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in the highest Palestinian death toll since 1948 and has been described as a humanitarian crisis by international organizations.
The October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which triggered the current conflict, was the deadliest day in Israel's history. Since then, Israel's military operation in Gaza has been one of the most intense bombing campaigns in recent history, drawing global attention and sparking widespread protests.
As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely. The United Nations has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, while the US, a long-standing ally of Israel, continues to provide significant military aid while also pushing for a resolution to the conflict.
The coming days are critical in determining the fate of the remaining hostages and the possibility of a ceasefire. As protests continue and diplomatic efforts intensify, the world awaits to see if the metaphorical "burning streets" will indeed prompt action from Netanyahu's government.