An official familiar with indirect talks between the sides in Cairo told The Times of Israel on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas are “on a path” toward another round of violence, just weeks after the most recent flare-up in the Gaza Strip.
The official noted Israel’s tough stance since the 11-day May War on the Kerem Shalom goods crossing, where only limited humanitarian essentials, such as food, medicine and fuel, have been allowed and almost all exports have been banned. has been installed. Defense Minister Benny Gantz has also led a policy conditioning on the return of a pair of Israeli civilians to the rehabilitation of the strip and the bodies of two fallen IDF soldiers being held by Hamas.
The official familiar with the talks also pointed to Hamas’ “courageous” position since the war, which its leader Yahya Sinwar has portrayed as a victory over Israel, while the rival Fatah movement led by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Public support for .
Two competing realities – a harsh Israel and an upbeat Hamas – do not bode well for Egypt-Mediation The official said the talks began in Cairo last month.
The official familiar with the talks said the Israeli security delegation also called for a change in the way in which multimillion-dollar humanitarian aid from Qatar is given to the Gaza Strip on a monthly basis. It says it will no longer allow the entry of unmonitored cash given to tens of thousands of poor families other than Hamas civil servants. Instead, it is calling for a new mechanism, facilitated by an international observer such as the United Nations, that would completely divert funding from the terrorist group, the official said, acknowledging that Hamas would object to such an effort. It is almost certain to, as it rules the Gaza Strip.
The official noted that a proposal was being prepared to form a provisional government of unaffiliated technocrats that would unite the West Bank and the Gaza Strip until the Palestinian elections are rescheduled. Parliamentary elections – the first since 2006 – were scheduled for May, but Abbas canceled them weeks before they took place, claiming Israel was refusing to allow voting in East Jerusalem. However, most analysts have speculated that the decision was always more concerned with concerns over the potential for Hamas’ gains on the broken Fatah.
Palestinian boys queue to register for a summer camp organized by the Hamas military wing, Ez-al Din al-Qassam Brigade, in Gaza City on June 14, 2021. (Photo by Mahmoud Hums/AFP)
The official was skeptical as to whether the proposal still being drafted would win the support of either Israel or the Palestinians, arguing that the latest round of violence has caused either side to radically shift its position in such a way. which would allow a longer-term ceasefire.
A second source familiar with the matter confirmed that there had been no breakthrough in Cairo and that the parties were not optimistic. However, the source noted that Israel and Hamas “may not be as interested in another round of violence as they are.”
The source argued that while Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is looking to prove himself tough on Hamas, he is also interested in stabilizing its nascent, politically diverse coalition, which soon after its formation was hit by another spate of violence. May not be able to withstand the round.
Furthermore, if the strip is bombed again, Hamas will not be able to maintain the public support it has gained since the most recent military operation. In the previous war, about 1,600 housing units in Gaza were completely destroyed in IDF retaliatory strikes to rocket fire and another 2,500 homes were partially damaged, according to a joint report good The United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank released this week.