Hamas accepts a cease-fire deal as Israel prepares for the Rafah attack. Israeli officials are skeptical to draw ‘far-reaching’ implications from the idea. The deal’s ability to halt the Gaza conflict remains uncertain.

What Is The Root Of The Hamas-Israel Conflict?

The conflict began on October 7, when Hamas terrorists assaulted southern Israel, murdering around 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages.

According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 34,700 individuals have died as a result of the Israeli military onslaught.

In November, Hamas agreed to release 105 captives in exchange for a week-long ceasefire and the release of over 240 Palestinian inmates held in Israeli jails.

Israel claims that 128 hostages remain unaccounted for in Gaza, with at least 34 likely dead.

On Monday, Hamas accepted a cease-fire proposal as Israeli troops prepared for an offensive on Rafah. However, Israeli officials have cautioned that the Egyptian-Qatari-mediated proposal has profound implications that they will not accept. It is unclear whether the agreement will conclude the seven-month-long Gaza conflict or assure complete army withdrawal.

Officials  stated that Hamas has agreed to a proposal that includes a truce, Gaza reconstruction, repatriation of the displaced, and a prisoner swap. Members of the militant organization also want to travel to Cairo for additional discussions concerning the cease-fire agreement and next measures. The Hamas deputy Gaza head informed the publication that the group has approved a “three-phase agreement,” with each component lasting 42 days.

Egyptian and Hamas officials have previously stated that a ceasefire would be implemented in phases, with Hamas releasing hostages in exchange for Israel withdrawing troops from Gaza.

However, an Israeli official told Reuters that Hamas’ approval of a softened Egyptian plan appeared to be “a ruse intended to make Tel Aviv look like the side refusing a deal”. According to local media reports, the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government did not accept the deal.

Foreign Reactions: 

The developments come only hours after Israel ordered tens of thousands of people in Rafah to leave ahead of a “restricted range action” on Monday. US President Joe Biden also had a lengthy phone talk with his Israeli colleague on Monday evening, during which Washington reiterated its opposition to a big ground invasion of the southern Gaza Strip.

Foreign officials, especially Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have welcomed reports of a potential truce. The senior Democrat also asked Western countries to exert pressure on Israel’s leadership to embrace the cease-fire agreement.

“We applaud Hamas’ statement that they accepted the ceasefire based on our suggestion. Now Israel must take the same action,” he said.

“The ball is now in Israel’s court,” a Palestinian group official stated.

What Was Israel’s Response?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the proposal accepted by Hamas was “far from Israel’s basic requirements,” but negotiations will continue.

Previously, Israel launched air strikes on Rafah after telling Palestinians to vacate certain areas of the city.

It has long threatened to launch an operation against Hamas holdouts in the southern city.

Tens of thousands of inhabitants are expected to be affected by the operation, with many seen rushing into automobiles or onto donkey carts on Monday.

A Hamas official described the evacuation order for eastern Rafah, which was followed by Israeli air attacks, as a “dangerous escalation”.

Later, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying: “Even though the Hamas plan is far from Israel’s basic needs, Israel will send a delegation of mediators to explore the prospect of achieving an agreement on terms acceptable to Israel.”

What Is The Basis Of The Ceasefire? 

The ceasefire accord is based on a weeks-long lull in combat and the release of several dozen Hamas hostages.

On Monday evening, Hamas issued a statement stating that its political head, Ismail Haniyeh, had notified Qatar’s prime minister and Egypt’s intelligence chief of its “approval of their proposal regarding a ceasefire agreement”.

A senior Palestinian official acquainted with the proposal indicated that Hamas had pledged to halt “hostile activity forever” provided the requirements were met.

That term suggested that Hamas was considering ending its violent fight, but no further specifics were revealed. It would come at the end of a two-phase cease-fire agreement, each lasting 42 days.

Phases of the Agreement:

The first phase would see the release of the female Israeli soldiers being held captive, in return for 50 Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, some of whom are serving life sentences.

During this time, Israeli troops would remain in Gaza. However, within 11 days of the truce going into effect, Israel would begin demolishing its military infrastructure in the territory’s center and withdraw from Salah al-Din Road, the primary north-south highway, as well as the coastal road.

After 11 days, displaced Palestinians may return to the north.

According to the official, the second phase will culminate with a “sustainable long period of calm” and the total lifting of the Gaza siege.

People’s Response: 

As the news of Hamas’ announcement spread, there were cheers across Gaza.

However, an unnamed Israeli official quickly informed that the proposal approved by Hamas was a “softened” version of an Egyptian proposal that featured “far-reaching” implications that Israel could not agree to.

“This appears to be a deception aimed to make Israel look like the party reluctant to strike a deal,” the official said.