Ceasefire efforts for Israel-Hamas war appear to be gaining momentum

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Efforts to reach a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas seem to be intensifying.

Egyptian and US officials confirmed this week that they are actively trying to stop the war for more than 110 days, An Egyptian official said Israel has submitted a proposal to stop the fighting, while the White House said it has sent a senior envoy to the region to consult with Egypt and Qatar.

Any deal would include a pause in fighting, exchanges taken hostage by hamas Large quantities of desperately needed humanitarian aid for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and for the war-torn Gaza Strip.

An Israeli army tank moves near the Gaza Strip border in southern Israel on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsafir Abayov)

But finding a formula acceptable to both sides has been difficult. The distance between Israel and Hamas remains wide and the chances of any agreement anytime soon still appear slim.

“There are contacts all the time but they have not yielded results because they were discussing behind-the-scenes negotiations,” said an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “There’s a long road ahead.”

Palestinians search for survivors of a mosque destroyed by Israeli air strikes in Rafah, Gaza Strip. Wednesday, January 24, 2024. Efforts to reach a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appear to be gaining momentum. Any deal should include a cease-fire in fighting, the exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, and large amounts of desperately needed humanitarian aid to the war-torn Gaza Strip. But finding a formula acceptable to both sides has been difficult. The gap between Israel and Hamas remains wide, and the prospects for an agreement any time soon still appear dim. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali) — Palestinians search for survivors of a mosque destroyed by Israeli air strikes in Rafah, Gaza Strip. Wednesday, January 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali)

Here’s a closer look at the ceasefire efforts:

an initial deal

Israel declared war after a surprise cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, killing 1,200 and taking 250 others hostage. According to local health officials and international aid agencies, Israeli air and ground attacks have killed more than 25,000 Palestinians, displaced an estimated 85% of Gaza’s population and caused widespread destruction and humanitarian suffering.

Israeli women May, left, and Lilach, right, console each other as they visit the marker for their friend Tifret Lapidot, who was killed across the border by Hamas militants at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023 Was killed during the attack. They visit the site in Reim, southern Israel, near the Gaza border on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. In late November, both sides agreed to a one-week ceasefire. Hamas released more than 100 of the 250 hostages it held, mostly women and children, while Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners. The sides blamed each other for the failure to move the deal forward and the fighting has worsened since then. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzo) — Israeli women May, left, and Lilach, right, console each other as they visit the marker for their friend Tifret Lapidot, who was killed across the border by Hamas militants at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023 Was killed during the attack. They visit the site in Reim in southern Israel near the Gaza border on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzo)

Israel has vowed to press ahead until it destroys Hamas’s military and governance capabilities and frees all hostages.

In late November, both sides agreed to a one-week ceasefire. Hamas released more than 100 of the 250 hostages it was holding, mostly women and children, while Israel released . 240 Palestinian prisoners,

Both sides accused each other Failure to proceed with the dealAnd since then the fighting has gotten worse.

FILE - Israeli soldiers stand near a truck filled with bound and blindfolded Palestinian detainees in Gaza on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. In late November, both sides agreed to a one-week ceasefire. Hamas released more than 100 of the 250 hostages it held, mostly women and children, while Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners. The sides blamed each other for the failure to move the deal forward and the fighting has worsened since then. (AP Photo/Moti Milrod, Haaretz, File) — FILE – Israeli soldiers stand near a truck filled with bound and blindfolded Palestinian detainees in Gaza, Friday, Dec. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Moti Milrod, Haaretz, File)

What does each side want?

Israel believes Hamas still holds about 110 hostages, in addition to the bodies of about 25 others who were killed on October 7 or died in captivity. He wants all hostages and remains returned as part of any deal. Israel is also offering a temporary pause in the fighting, but says it will continue the all-out war until all of its objectives are met.

Hamas wants Israel to release thousands of Palestinian prisoners under its control. These include prisoners convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis, as well as hundreds of Hamas militants who took part in the October 7 massacre. He also wants an end to Israel’s offensive and a permanent withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza.

What has been proposed?

According to the Israeli official, many proposals are circulating. But the two sides remain at odds over the length of any pause in the fighting, the pace of the hostage release and the scope of any prisoner release.

A senior Egyptian official said Israel has proposed a two-month ceasefire in which hostages would be freed in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, and Top leaders of Hamas Will be allowed to move to other countries in Gaza.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media, said Hamas rejected the proposal and insisted that the situation would continue until Israel ends its offensive and Gaza. No more hostages will be released until the US returns from Iraq. He also said that Hamas leaders in Gaza do not want to go into exile.

The Israeli government declined to comment on the talks.

FILE - In this June 7, 2017 file photo, Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy for the global coalition against IS, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. In late November, both sides agreed to a one-week ceasefire. Hamas released more than 100 of the 250 hostages it held, mostly women and children, while Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners. The sides blamed each other for the failure to move the deal forward and the fighting has worsened since then. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that a senior envoy, Brett McGurk, was in Cairo for talks on one issue. "human pause" This would involve a mortgage deal. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File) — FILE – In this June 7, 2017 file photo, Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy for the global coalition against IS, speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File)

The official said Egypt and Qatar – which have brokered previous agreements between Israel and Hamas – were developing a multi-layered proposal to try to bridge the gap.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that a senior envoy, Brett McGurk, was in Cairo for talks on a “humanitarian pause” that would also include a hostage deal.

“It is definitely on the agenda,” he said.

McGurk left for Qatar on Wednesday, Kirby said.

Can an armistice end the war?

In the short term, this appears unlikely.

FILE - Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wears a protective vest and helmet while receiving a security briefing with commanders and soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. Netanyahu has said that Israel will continue the offensive until "final victory" Achieves all his goals. He expects the war to last until 2024 and has resisted calls for the US and other allies to create a clear post-war plan for Gaza. (Via Ohioan/GPO/Handout AP, File) — FILE – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wears a protective vest and helmet while receiving a security briefing with commanders and soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. (via Ohioan/GPO/Handout AP, File)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel the offensive will continue Unless the “final victory” achieves all its goals. He expects the war to last until 2024 and has resisted calls from the US and other allies Develop a clear post-war plan For Gaza.

But a continued pause could make it difficult for Israel to resume fighting, especially as the world learns more about the full extent of the damage done to Gaza’s people and infrastructure. Mediators also hope it can provide a basis for further understanding between the enemies.

The Israeli public has so far overwhelmingly supported the war effort. But the slow pace of the offensive and rising casualties among Israeli soldiers threaten to weaken that support.

Palestinians pray near the bodies of those killed in the Israeli ground attack and bombing of Khan Younis, outside a morgue in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Shabair)

Israeli soldiers carry the flag-draped coffin of reservist Elkanah Wiesel during a funeral at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zweigenberg)

While Israel says it has killed more than 9,000 Hamas militants, the group continues to mount fierce resistance. Israel said on Tuesday 21 soldiers were killed In an explosion in central Gaza. It was the deadliest single attack since Israel sent ground troops into Gaza in October.

Nahum Barania, a veteran columnist for Israel’s largest daily, Yediot Aharonot, wrote on Wednesday that he believes the public is in favor of what is seen as a just war, but people are concerned about the cost of the campaign and Starting to weigh the benefits.

“I do not think that the casualties on Monday have changed the degree of Israeli public support for the war; But looking ahead, pricing will start to take a hit,” he wrote.