Photo: SIPA / SCANPIX
On Thursday, 3 April, Channel 12‘s website, citing Al Jazeera, shed light on the latest round of tension between Hamas and Israel. The conflict, which has been simmering for years, was once again in the spotlight due to the failure of negotiations that could have been a breath of fresh air for both sides. But, as it turned out, even the slightest compromise here is worth its weight in gold, which no one is in a hurry to give up.
Hamas: an ultimatum or a chance for peace?
On 27 March, Hamas proposed a deal that they believed could break the cycle of violence. The release of five hostages, including US citizen Idan Alexander, in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire sounds like a gesture of goodwill, doesn’t it? But it is only the tip of the iceberg. Hamas insists: Israel is disrupting the negotiations by rejecting this offer. At the same time, it demands that humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip be returned to pre-war levels (by 2 March), that the crossings be opened and that thousands of prisoners be released. Including 150 terrorists sentenced to life imprisonment. Is it ambitious? Absolutely. Is it realistic? The question is open.
Hamas’ plan included another interesting twist: on the 10th day of the ceasefire, they promised to disclose details about the fate of hostages, both dead and alive. And the mediators – the countries trying to hold on to this shaky bridge of peace – would immediately begin negotiations on a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops (IDF) from the Gaza Strip, and the future of the region after the war. It all sounds like a Hollywood thriller scenario, with tensions rising by the minute.
Israel: a move in the game
Israel, however, did not swallow the ultimatum in silence. Their counter-proposal is not just a response, but an attempt to seize the initiative. Even before the agreement was launched, Hamas was supposed to release Idan Alexander as a symbolic gesture. And on the first day of the ceasefire, it should have released 10 hostages in exchange for 120 life prisoners and 1111 Palestinians detained after the bloody events of 7 October. And that’s not all: Israel wants to return the bodies of 16 dead hostages, offering 160 Palestinian bodies in return. Harsh but clear – Israel is playing by its own rules.
Hamas is silent but not giving up
For a week, Israel waited for Hamas’s reaction. Everyone hoped that the mediators – Egypt, Qatar, or whoever else was behind the scenes – would push through the deal. But on the evening of 2 April, Reuters, citing a Hamas spokesman, threw a cold shower on those expectations. The terrorist group rejected Israel’s proposal, saying it remained “committed” only to mediator initiatives. Translation from diplomatic to human: “Your plan does not suit us, but we will play this game.”
What’s next?
The situation hangs in the air like smoke over a battlefield. Hamas accuses Israel of disrupting the negotiations, and Israel accuses Hamas of being unwilling to make concessions. And between them are hostages, a humanitarian crisis, and thousands of lives waiting for some kind of enlightenment. Will the mediators be able to glue together this broken puzzle of peace? Or will we once again witness another act of this endless drama?
Author : Marianna Nyzhnia
