JERUSALEM – In a dramatic turn of events on the Gaza conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel stands ready to negotiate a permanent truce in exchange for the unconditional disarmament of Hamas during a suggested 60-day cease-fire.
In a video address from Washington, where he has traveled on a visit, Netanyahu spoke of conditions for a peace that will last. “At the start of the ceasefire, we will negotiate a permanent cessation of the war, i.e., a permanent ceasefire,” he said. He went on to explain that for such negotiations to happen, Hamas will need to disarm, and Gaza must be demilitarized so that Hamas will cease to have any governmental or military presence.
Details of the Suggested Ceasefire
The call for a ceasefire arises against the backdrop of a brutal military campaign that has seen more than 57,000 Palestinians killed since the war escalated after a Hamas attack in October 2023. Netanyahu’s statement is timed with the beginning of Israeli and Hamas envoys’ arrival in Doha, Qatar, to start negotiating a short-term truce.
Under Netanyahu’s account, the proposed deal given by American Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff also comes with a 60-day ceasefire, and in addition to that, it seeks the release of 10 live hostages and some number of dead people. Approximately 50 hostages are estimated to be kept in Gaza, with about 20 of them estimated to be alive.
The Costs of War
Whereas Netanyahu was taking pride in the successes against terrorism, he also admitted the painful costs of the war. We have very great achievements in the fight against terror,” he said, taking note of the military operations conducted in Gaza and the West Bank. Yet he did not refrain from taking note of the human cost the war has imposed.
The suggested ceasefire and talks are timely, given the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The international community is following the developments closely, with a hope that the resolution can pave the way to enduring peace in the region.
As talks continue, attention is on the conditions placed by Israel and Hamas‘ reply, which will determine the future of peace in Gaza.
