A New Round Of Gaza Cease-Fire Talks Is Starting. Why Is A Deal So Elusive?

JERUSALEM (AP) — International mediators are hoping to kickstart stalled cease-fire negotiations betwixt Israel and Hamas pinch a caller information of talks meant to yet clinch a woody betwixt nan sides. But nan chances of a breakthrough look slim.

The caller talks are group to statesman Thursday, but Israel and Hamas person been mulling an internationally-backed connection for much than 2 months that would upwind down the 10-month-long war and free nan astir 110 hostages still held successful Gaza.

The indirect talks person not precocious substantively during that clip and sticking points remain. New position put guardant person analyzable progress. And Hamas has yet to opportunity outright whether it will participate successful nan caller round.

Here is simply a look astatine nan projected cease-fire woody and why talks person stalled:

What does nan connection look like?

The original connection progressive 3 phases. The first would past for six weeks and see a “full and complete cease-fire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from each densely populated areas of Gaza, and nan merchandise of a number of hostages, including women, nan aged and nan wounded, successful speech for nan merchandise of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Palestinian civilians would beryllium capable to return to their homes and humanitarian assistance would beryllium increased.

The 2 sides would usage that six-week play to discuss an statement connected nan 2nd phase, which Biden said would see nan merchandise of each remaining surviving hostages, including antheral soldiers, and Israel’s afloat withdrawal from Gaza. The impermanent cease-fire would go permanent.

The 3rd shape would footwear disconnected a awesome reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from nan devastation caused by nan war.

What are nan sticking points?

Even though Biden threw his weight down nan proposal, it has not led to a breakthrough and nan sides look to person grown further isolated successful nan weeks since.

Israel has been wary of nan plan’s proviso that nan first cease-fire would beryllium extended arsenic agelong arsenic negotiations continued complete nan 2nd phase. Israel seems concerned that Hamas would resistance connected endlessly pinch fruitless negotiations.

Hamas has appeared concerned that Israel would resume nan warfare erstwhile its astir susceptible hostages were returned, a script reflected successful immoderate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent comments. Israel could besides make demands during this shape of negotiations that were not portion of nan first woody and would beryllium unacceptable to Hamas — and past resume nan warfare erstwhile Hamas refuses them.

Israel has added further demands to nan first connection successful caller weeks, according to 2 Egyptian officials pinch knowledge of nan talks. In a connection Tuesday, Netanyahu’s agency denied this, calling nan further position “essential clarifications.” It said Hamas has made 29 additions, without specifying which.

The Egyptian officials said Israel seeks to support power of a portion of onshore on Gaza’s border pinch Egypt known arsenic nan Philadelphi corridor. Israel believes Hamas uses nan area to smuggle successful weapons done underground tunnels, which Egypt denies.

Israel besides wants to support forces on an east-west way that bisects Gaza truthful that they tin weed retired immoderate militants crossing into nan territory’s north. Netanyahu’s agency has said Israel wants immoderate measurement to guarantee this, but it denied accusations that this was an further condition. Hamas has rejected nan idea, saying Israel would usage it arsenic a pretext to forestall Palestinians from returning to their homes.

The Egyptian officials and Netanyahu’s agency said Israel besides wants veto powerfulness complete nan Palestinian prisoners who would beryllium freed. Hamas refuses to discuss connected nan issue, they said.

Israel besides wants a database of nan hostages who are still live — different information rejected by Hamas, according to nan officials, who said connected nan information of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to talk nan delicate talks pinch nan media.

What other is complicating progress?

The talks were further thrown into disarray past period erstwhile a blast killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh while he was successful Tehran for nan Iranian president’s inauguration. The onslaught was wide blamed connected Israel, which has not confirmed aliases denied it. Biden said nan evident assassination had “not helped” cease-fire efforts, and nan talks were driven into a heavy freeze.

Netanyahu’s critics opportunity he is dragging retired nan warfare for his ain governmental survival. His far-right conjugation partners person pledged to topple nan authorities if he agrees to a cease-fire, what could trigger elections that mightiness oust him from power. Netanyahu has said he has nan country’s champion interests successful mind.

Hamas has gained from nan world condemnation that Israel has faced because of nan war. And connected a individual level, Haniyeh’s sidesplitting has shown that Sinwar’s ain life could beryllium connected nan statement if he surfaces erstwhile nan warfare ends.

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Magdy reported from Cairo.