Israel stalls Gaza settlement process - media
Israeli objections delayed a meeting of mediators in Cairo on implementing the ceasefire agreements in Gaza. A source says the process stalled due to Israel's disagreement with the plan, especially regarding troop withdrawal. Israel fears Hamas retaining a role comparable to Hezbollah's position in Lebanon. All are waiting for US action to pressure Israel.
Israeli objections have led to a delay in the meeting of mediators in Cairo, where they planned to discuss the implementation of new agreements reached more than a week ago as part of the ceasefire deal in Gaza. This is reported by the publication "Asharq Al-Awsat." According to a source, the negotiation process stalled due to Israel's disagreement with the proposed plan, primarily regarding the withdrawal of troops from the enclave's territory. "Everyone is waiting for action from the United States and what they can do on this issue, especially in terms of pressuring Israel," the source emphasized. The proposed plan for Gaza does not provide clear answers to a number of fundamental questions and raises serious concerns in Israel, especially given the events of October 7, 2023. The greatest concern is the possible preservation of a role for Hamas comparable to Hezbollah's position in Lebanon. Under this scheme, the movement's influence could persist through the participation of its representatives in the new police force and current officials in state structures, while Hamas would not be directly responsible for security, the lives of the population, or the provision of basic services. Earlier, "Kursor" reported that the leadership of Israeli security forces stressed that the military operation in the Gaza Strip would continue until the complete disarmament of Hamas terrorists. Jerusalem's official position remains unchanged: eliminating the group's military capability is seen as a prerequisite for ending hostilities. Additionally, "Kursor" has already reported that in the new settlement scheme presented by the Gaza Peace Council, the disarmament of Hamas should proceed in parallel with a phased reduction of the Israeli military presence and the transfer of administrative functions to a Palestinian civilian committee.