Israel is sending a team to Doha on Monday to talk about extending a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. This comes after Israel cut off electricity to put pressure on Hamas. The first part of the ceasefire ended on March 1, and while both sides have not resumed fighting, they still disagree on how to move forward.
Hamas wants to start discussions for a new phase of the truce, but Israel prefers to extend the current situation. Israel has also stopped aid deliveries to Gaza and has cut off electricity to make Hamas release hostages. Energy Minister Eli Cohen announced this power cut, emphasizing that Israel will do everything it can to bring back the hostages.
Currently, many people in Gaza are living in tents because supplies are low, especially with nighttime temperatures dropping to about 12 degrees Celsius (54 degrees Fahrenheit). A top Hamas official criticized Israel for cutting off electricity, saying it’s a desperate attempt to weaken their resistance.
Hamas is asking for a second phase of the ceasefire that includes an exchange of hostages, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, a permanent ceasefire, and reopening the borders. Former US President Joe Biden also supported a plan to get hostages back and remove Israeli forces from Gaza.
The US envoy, Adam Boehler, stated that a deal could happen soon. Out of 251 hostages taken during the October 7 attack, 58 are still held in Gaza. Boehler mentioned that they were close to reaching an agreement that could release all hostages.
Israel’s earlier proposal to remove Palestinians from Gaza faced backlash, leading to other plans that do not require displacing anyone. The previous phase of the ceasefire, which started on January 19, had reduced fighting and brought relief to the civilians in Gaza. However, after Israel cut off aid on March 2, the UN accused them of using hunger as a weapon. Many in Gaza now struggle without food and medicine, and the situation is challenging.
Leave a Reply