The State of Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations and Escalation in the Region [Webinar], J Street
With Netanyahu seeking to extend Phase I of the ceasefire while avoiding any commitment to end the war, the release of all remaining hostages and a lasting ceasefire look likely to be delayed. We spoke with renowned Israeli journalist and military analyst Amos Harel and J Street Policy Fellow Yael Patir to understand the state of the ceasefire agreement and what it will take to get it back on track.
Trump Rejects Arab States’ Bid to Rebuild Gaza, Stands by Takeover Plan, White House Says, Haaretz
The Arab League’s plan “does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance,” US National Security Spokesperson Brian Hughes said. Hughes added that “President Trump stands by his vision to rebuild Gaza free from Hamas” and that the US looks “forward to further talks to bring peace and prosperity to the region.”
In Oct. 7 Report, Israeli Security Agency Puts Some Blame on Netanyahu Government, The New York Times
“The Shin Bet report, unlike the recent military one, directly pointed to government policies as contributing factors to the attack. It said that the government had allowed Hamas to accumulate arms and to raise money for its military wing through Qatar. And it pointed to government reluctance to undertake ‘offensive’ initiatives, including targeting Hamas leaders in Gaza.”
Israel Says It Killed Local Hamas Commander in West Bank, The New York Times
“The Israeli military said on Tuesday that its forces had killed a Hamas military commander in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank as it expanded on a series of raids that have displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians. Israeli soldiers killed Aysar al-Saadi, the head of a local group of Hamas militants, in a shootout, the Israeli military said in a statement.”
‘We Are Bringing Back Our Hostages From Gaza,’ Trump Says in Address to Congress, The Times of Israel
“With several former Israeli hostages in the audience, US President Donald Trump briefly highlighted his efforts to secure the release of captives from Gaza during an address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. ‘In the Middle East, we are bringing back our hostages from Gaza,’ Trump said. After considerable anticipation in Israel, that ended up being his only remark on the issue in the entire speech.”
New Israeli Military Chief Assumes Command With Gaza Ceasefire in the Balance, Reuters
“Israel swore in a new commander of its military on Wednesday as a standoff over the fragile ceasefire in Gaza increased the risk of a resumption of fighting without an agreement to bring home the rest of the hostages still held by Hamas. Eyal Zamir, who retired after 28 years with the rank of Major General, was promoted to Lieutenant General, before formally assuming command from General Herzi Halevi, who stepped down over the security disaster of Oct. 7, 2023.”
Qatar Bashes Israel’s Shin Bet Probe Into October 7, Denies Accusations of Funding Hamas, Haaretz
“According to the findings of the Shin Bet investigation, the transfer of Qatari funds to Hamas’ military wing was among the main factors that enabled Hamas to prepare for the October 7 attack. However, Qatar denied that any aid was delivered to Hamas’ political or military wings. It said all money transferred to the Gaza Strip was spent on humanitarian endeavors, coordinated with the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO).”
We are in a Bad Place, Substack
Former Director of Jewish Outreach and Policy Advisor for the Harris Campaign, Ilan Goldenberg writes, “The reality is that there is overwhelming evidence that the best approach here is to get the Israelis and Hamas back to negotiations. Let’s hope that happens, but it feels much more likely that what we are seeing is a flashing green light from Trump to Netanyahu that will eventually restart the war.”
Israel’s Settler Outposts Stir Annexation Fears in West Bank Amid Doubt Over Trump Policy, Reuters
“Since the start of the war in Gaza, 43 new outposts, the seeds of future settlements, have been built in the West Bank, according to Peace Now, an Israeli organization that tracks settlement building. Most are farm outposts that exclude Palestinians from agricultural land. At least seven were built in the Jordan Valley, according to Palestinian Authority figures. As in other areas of the West Bank, Palestinians and rights groups say the arrival of outposts coincided with more violence from bands of settlers, now free of the fear of U.S. sanctions since Trump cancelled penalties imposed under former President Joe Biden for previous violence.”
Nearly Half of Israelis Support Advancing Ceasefire Negotiations, The Jerusalem Post
Jerusalem Post Staff write, “Almost half of the respondents to a KAN News poll published on Monday felt that Israel should pursue phase two of the ceasefire deal. However, one in ten wants to resume military operations even if it means leaving the remaining hostages in captivity. Some 44% of respondents to the poll felt that Israel should further advance negotiations on phase two of the ceasefire and hostage release agreements with Hamas.”