A deal tailored to Israel

Yesterday, the United States reinvigorated efforts to resume negotiations to reach an exchange deal after they repeatedly faltered and stalled over the past month.

The United States conveyed to Hamas through mediators new proposals regarding Article 8, about which there is great controversy and disagreement, as it relates to the precise details that should include sustainable calm in Gaza.

While the United States claims that it has drafted a new version of Article Eight with the aim of bridging the gaps between Hamas and Israel, there are many questions about the timing of this American move, which coincides with the near end of the Israeli military operation in Rafah, and why the House did not move. White to activate this file last month?

It seems that the clear answer to this step does not require much explanation, as the United States gave Israel the time it requested to begin its operation in Rafah, and when it was nearing the end, it appeared in a suspicious attempt to embellish and revise some of the provisions, claiming that it had asked Qatar and Egypt to pressure Hamas to accept the new deal with its modified proposals. In fact, the proposal of the deal again at this particular time is another American attempt to prevent the outbreak of war in southern Lebanon, which would have disastrous effects on Israel. Hence, it was not surprising that the political and security cabinet decided to turn to a diplomatic solution to end the tension with Hezbollah, and to seek to prevent the outbreak of war. In the north, with a pause, even if temporary, and reaching an exchange deal, even if partial, in the south.

There is nothing new in the United States’ proposals and what is reported about them comes only in the context of pressure on Hamas, according to what leader Osama Hamdan stated, knowing that Hamas is ready to deal seriously with any formula that includes a complete and final ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, and this is what Israel rejects. In general, it claims that it agreed to the proposals of US President Joe Biden.

Proposing an exchange deal to Israel’s measure and at the time it wants and determines in coordination with the United States, at a time when the Gaza Strip is witnessing an unprecedented war of genocide, will be difficult for Hamas and the resistance factions to accept, especially since the United States is the one designing and planning the course of this process. The war defends the goals and ideas of Israel and does not provide guarantees to end the aggression. Hence, all eyes are fixed on Gaza, waiting for Sinwar to extract a positive answer from him, which may not achieve its goal. Therefore, the issue of the Gaza Strip is much bigger than being reduced to an exchange deal, as if the matter is over. There are dozens of files and issues. The strategy requires comprehensive solutions, and these solutions cannot be discussed or discussed in the hope of being implemented on the ground until after the complete end of the aggression.