Diplomats seize ‘a bit of momentum’ to put pressure on negotiations between Hamas and Israel

There have been unsuccessful attempts for weeks to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. Negotiations on this matter have virtually reached a standstill. Both sides disagree on the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the duration of a ceasefire. Hamas wants a permanent truce, while Israel prefers a temporary ceasefire.

According to The New York Times there is also disagreement about the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza. Hamas wants all Palestinians to be able to return at the same time, Israel wants to control the return and determine who can return, where and when.

The United States formulated a proposal that included the release of 40 hostages by Hamas in exchange for a six-week temporary truce. Israel indicated that it might be willing to agree to this, but Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who is said to be hiding in Gaza, rejected this.

A US official called out Sinwar’s stance The New York Times ‘totally unconstructive.’ On Saturday, however, another senior Hamas leader, Khalil al-Hayya, reported that the organization was still “studying” that Israeli response, and that it was therefore not yet off the table.

Suspension of Rafah attack

The US is also strongly supporting the suspension of the planned attack on the city of Rafah. Israel insists it is necessary to destroy the last Hamas battalions, but critics say an attack on Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have fled, would result in a “humanitarian catastrophe.” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said this weekend that the attack on Rafah could be postponed if there is an agreement.

The small moves by Israel and Hamas have led to renewed diplomatic pressure in the Middle East. Ministers and top diplomats are meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh for the World Economic Forum (WEF). The host country takes this opportunity to organize talks about the stalled negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

On Sunday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud led a discussion of Arab countries. In addition to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, ministers and senior officials from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates also took part.

‘A little momentum’

Egyptian mediators also reported their findings on Sunday in Israel, where they were on Friday for talks on an agreement. The Egyptians’ trip to Tel Aviv was also seen as a positive sign that the negotiations were moving again.

The chairman of the WEF, the Norwegian Borge Brende, confirmed to Reuters that the economic forum is a good opportunity to restart negotiations between Hamas and Israel: ‘There is now some momentum for negotiations on the hostages and on a possible file.’

An estimated 133 of the hostages taken during the bloody raid on Israeli villages by Hamas fighters on October 7, 2023 are still in Gaza. In that raid, Hamas killed 1,200 people and kidnapped more than 240.

Blinken’s visit to Israel

This weekend, Hamas published two video recordings of hostages: the American Keith Siegel and the Israeli Omri Miran. The images were shown on a large screen in Tel Aviv during a weekly demonstration. Relatives of the hostages made emotional appeals to the government to focus all attention on their release.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is making another visit to the region this week. He will visit the Saudi capital Riyadh on Monday and then travel to Israel, the AP reports. The latter visit is not on Blinken’s official agenda.

Pier for relief supplies by sea

While diplomats negotiate a ceasefire, a battle against hunger is raging in Gaza. The UN says there is a high chance that Gaza will experience a famine by the end of May because there is still not enough food aid entering the enclave. According to aid workers, the border crossings are still a bottleneck that means that too few trucks with aid goods reach Palestinian refugees, especially in the north of Gaza.

The US military has started construction of a floating platform and a floating pier for the delivery of relief supplies by sea. According to the United States, aid ships can deliver their cargo to the platform, after which the aid supplies will be brought into Gaza by truck.

It is expected that ninety trucks a day will reach Gaza via this road. If the entire system is up and running, that number could rise to 150. According to aid organizations, this is a welcome addition to the food drops in the north, but it will not be enough.