Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Negotiations Stall Over Gaza Cease-Fire and Hostage-Release Deal

Egyptian state television, citing an unidentified official, said that "disputed points go beyond what was previously agreed upon with the mediators," which include the United States, Qatar and Egypt. President Biden, at his Thursday news conference marking the conclusion of this week's NATO summit, voiced confidence that a deal was within reach, saying the "framework" of the cease-fire plan he laid out six weeks ago "is now agreed on by both Israel and Hamas." However, just hours before Biden spoke, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan cited "positive" signs, but said that "'optimistic' is always a hard word to use in a sentence around this tragic conflict." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Friday dismissed as "absolute fake news" a report it is negotiating with Egypt over withdrawing its troops from the eight-mile corridor dividing the two countries as part of ongoing talks over a Gaza cease-fire and hostage-release deal.

Key Takeaways:

• The Israeli-Palestinian negotiations are stalled over the Gaza cease-fire and hostage-release deal, with disputed points exceeding those previously agreed upon by mediators.
• President Biden expressed confidence that a deal was within reach, while White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan cautioned that "optimistic" is always a hard word to use in a sentence around this tragic conflict.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office dismissed as "absolute fake news" a report it is negotiating with Egypt over withdrawing its troops from the Philadelphi Corridor.
• The framework of the cease-fire plan, laid out by President Biden six weeks ago, is now agreed on by both Israel and Hamas.
• The plan includes a three-phase process, with the first phase focusing on a six-week cease-fire and a surge in humanitarian aid, followed by a permanent truce and the release of remaining hostages.

*Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel will be exchanged for female, elderly and wounded hostages held in Gaza, and Palestinians will have free passage to return to their homes in areas that have long been blocked by Israeli troops.

• The Biden administration has accused Hamas of holding up the deal, but Hamas has dropped a demand for a guarantee of a permanent cease-fire and full Israeli withdrawal before entering the first phase.
• Israel has insisted on maintaining its military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor, which would violate preexisting border agreements, and has also demanded that it be allowed to "return to the fight" after the release of hostages.
• Negotiators are trying to find a way around the Israeli demand that it will "not allow the return of armed terrorists and the entry of war materiel to the northern Gaza Strip," in order to permit hundreds of thousands of Gazans who fled Israeli attacks in the north earlier this year to return home.
• The war has resulted in a significant civilian toll, with at least 1.5 million Palestinians displaced, and the city of Gaza is one of the most deprived in the enclave, mostly cut off from international aid deliveries.

Statistics:

• 1.5 million Palestinians have taken refuge in the far south of Gaza, in the Rafah area.
• The city of Gaza is one of the most deprived in the enclave, with entire streets flattened by Israeli airstrikes and cut off from international aid deliveries.
• Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel will be exchanged for female, elderly and wounded hostages held in Gaza.
• The first phase of the cease-fire plan will focus on a six-week cease-fire and a surge in humanitarian aid, followed by a permanent truce and the release of remaining hostages.
• The refugee crisis has left several women describing traumatic births without health care, and girls speaking of enduring their periods without access to clean water or any sanitary products.

Sources:

• Reuters
• Egyptian state television
• White House press conference
• Israeli Prime Minister's office
• United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees
• Aaron David Miller, former US adviser and negotiator in the Middle East.