‘Everything negotiated before doesn’t look like it’s worthy any more’
With Gaza truce talks ongoing in Cairo, Luciano Zaccara from Qatar University says it appears the US is attempting to chart its own course by demanding Hamas release American captives.
“It looks like the United States is only focusing on its own people, which shows how personally foreign policy is being decided with Trump back in power, and how things are aligned with his main interests in the region,” Zaccara told Al Jazeera.
He noted the original Gaza ceasefire signed in January was approved by the Biden administration and the UN Security Council, however, “last-minute changes” have now been proposed.
“Everything that was negotiated before doesn’t look like it’s worthy any more,” said Zaccara.
Most Israeli ministers want to ‘resume fighting’ in Gaza
Alon Liel, the former director general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, says Israel “reluctantly” sent its negotiating team back to Egypt for Gaza truce talks, with the United States “running the show in Cairo”.
“Most of the Israeli ministers would like to resume fighting to achieve what seems to them the number one goal of the war: Destroying Hamas,” Liel told Al Jazeera.
“Each time Israel presents its view, the United States gets closer to our view. It looks like the talks in Cairo wouldn’t happen if the United States would give up.”
Israel said it’s ready to resume talks based on “a bridging proposal” presented by US envoy Steve Witkoff that includes the release of 11 captives.
Hamas, however, demanded that Israel abide by the terms of the truce deal signed in January and enter the second phase as agreed.
US warning to Hamas after Houthi attacks a ‘game-changer’ if real
Comments by US envoy Steve Witkoff suggesting Hamas may face attacks like the Houthis did in Yemen could have significant consequences for Israel’s war on Gaza, an ex-official says.
“This American hint that they might do in Gaza what they did in Yemen – if they really mean it and do it – it’s a game-changer,” said Alon Liel, former director general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
“During the last 15-16 months, we did not see the United States attacking in Gaza from the air or any other way. So this president [Trump] surprises us on a daily basis. If he will attack in Gaza, it is very meaningful.”
Alon said hardline Israeli ministers who are spoiling to return to fighting in Gaza to “destroy” Hamas are not interested in “negotiating beyond the hostages”.
“Meaning you negotiate the end of the war and maybe the Arab League plan is coming into the picture, and Israel will have to speak on ‘the day after’ in Gaza. This is something Israel doesn’t want to get close to.”
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