AN Israeli delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday evening to engage in negotiations with mediators in an effort to secure a long-term peace deal and the release of hostages from Gaza, according to reports on Tuesday.
The delegation met senior Egyptian officials on Monday, with reports suggesting that mediators presented a proposal for a long-term truce.
It was reported that Egypt and Qatar are advocating a ceasefire lasting between five and seven years, a formal end to the war, a complete IDF withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, as confirmed by Israeli media.
The proposal also stated that Hamas is prepared to halt all military activities, including weapons development and tunnel construction, in return for a long-term ceasefire.
This raises a pertinent question — is Israel genuinely interested in a peace deal?
Recent developments in Gaza seem to indicate otherwise. Israeli forces have reportedly killed more than 200 civilians within just five days during the latest round of bombing.
Despite this, Israel appears to be moving forward with negotiations for a peace deal and hostage release. Critics and protesters have repeatedly accused the Netanyahu government of being disinterested in recovering the hostages, arguing that continued airstrikes on locations potentially housing hostages show disregard for their safety.
These fears were reinforced on Monday when Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich openly criticised the current conduct of the war. He claimed that unless the military campaign is intensified, the present government has no reason to remain in power.
Speaking to a right-wing media outlet, Smotrich remarked that when the previous ceasefire was agreed in January, he had said unequivocally that fighting would resume “in a completely different way — with the goal of subduing, defeating and destroying Hamas, conquering the Gaza Strip, and imposing military rule there.”
He added, “We need to seize territory and make it clear both internally and externally that anyone who challenges us will be crushed. But sadly, this is not what is happening. I believe it is time to launch a full-scale assault on Gaza. If that does not happen, this government has no justification for its existence.”
The war in Gaza began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched an incursion into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
