Top of the Agenda –Cease-Fire Between Hamas, Israel Halts Fighting in Gaza
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The Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel agreed to a cease-fire after eleven days of conflict that killed more than two hundred people, displaced nearly one hundred thousand Palestinians in Gaza, and destroyed thousands of homes in the territory. The cease-fire, which went into effect yesterday, appeared to be holding (NYT) as of this morning.
Each side warned the other that violating the Egypt-brokered cease-fire would bring retaliation (Reuters). The details of the agreement remain unclear. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory in the conflict, saying Israel destroyed Hamas infrastructure, but political rivals criticized him (Haaretz) for ending the war too soon. Hamas leaders also claimed to have won. World leaders welcomed the cease-fire (Al Jazeera), with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging both sides to begin talks to “address the root causes of the conflict.” U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to help Israel replenish its antimissile defense system and promised humanitarian aid for Gaza. Citing the devastation there, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees called on Israel to quickly allow its staff and humanitarian aid to enter the territory.
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| Analysis |
| “[The] cease-fire [is] mostly the result of Israeli government & Hamas concluding (for different reasons) continued conflict did not serve their interests. But no opportunity for peace arises given politics/policies of Palestinian & Israeli leadership alike. We will be fortunate if cease-fire holds,” CFR President Richard N. Haass tweets.
“[This latest round of confrontation] will reinforce the sense among Israelis, Palestinians, and most of the international community that the search for a peaceful resolution to the [Israeli-Palestinian] conflict has come to an end for the foreseeable future,” the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research’s Khalil Shikaki writes for Foreign Affairs.
This Backgrounder looks at U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. |
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