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SvennoJ on 25 August 2024
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‘Either a ceasefire in next few days … or a wider regional war’

The main obstacle to reaching a ceasefire deal is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest insistence of keeping the military in Gaza after the ceasefire. The Palestinians and even the mediators are not going to accept Israel directly reoccupying Gaza by having troops deployed in various parts.

We are at a fateful crossroads. Either we turn towards a ceasefire in the next few days … or we can have a wider regional war.

We will have more escalation of violence in Gaza, in Lebanon and potentially throughout the region because Israel does not have an alternative strategy. Israel has no exit plan.

 

‘Go to Cairo yourself’: Opposition leader to Netanyahu

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prioritise returning captives from Gaza by personally sealing a mediated deal in Egypt.

“Prime minister, go to Cairo yourself, don’t send anybody. Close a deal now,” he said during large demonstrations in Tel Aviv, also publishing the message on his X account, along with images of him meeting with family members of captives held in Gaza.

Lapid has repeatedly blamed Netanyahu for being an obstacle to the truce talks, accusing him of prolonging the war to prevent his far-right ruling coalition from breaking apart.

Translation: Yair Lapid and [mother of captive held in Gaza] Einav Zangauker walking from Habima Square to Shaar Begin.


Family of Israeli captive calls for Netanyahu’s removal

More from the protest in Tel Aviv led by the families of Israeli captives:

Ayala Metzger, daughter-in-law of the late captive Yoram Metzger, spoke at the gathering.

She said: “I want to take advantage of this stage and appeal to the ministers and coalition members who are sane. I skip over Netanyahu because he is no longer an issue for me. He failed on the seventh of October and in returning the captives afterwards. Remove him from his position and appoint a person who is able to return them.”


A woman with bound hands holds up a sign during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and to call for the release of captives in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, Israel, August 24


No sign of breakthrough in Cairo: Report

The Reuters news agency is reporting that negotiators discussed new compromise proposals in Cairo on Saturday but that there was no indication of progress after hours of talks.

One Palestinian official close to the mediation effort told Reuters that “talks in Cairo didn’t make any progress” as “Israel is insisting on keeping eight positions” along the so-called Philadelphi Corridor or the border area between Egypt and Gaza.

The agency, citing a US official, also said the US delegation met with Egypt, then with Egypt and Qatar on Saturday, and believed that representatives from Egypt and Qatar were meeting with Hamas.

Earlier, the Associated Press news agency also reported that the US delegation held talks with Egypt and Qatar’s teams and that the latter were expected to speak with Hamas later on.

The Palestinian official told Reuters that the Hamas delegation has returned to Doha, Qatar, after the briefing on the latest round of talks ended.


Police detain Israeli protesters in West Jerusalem



Israelis calling for a captive exchange deal and ceasefire in Gaza protested near the home of Israeli Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat in West Jerusalem on Saturday.

Israelis have been holding weekly protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war since last year.

Police detained a number of people at the protest.