Struggle is more than just ending Israel’s war on Gaza, official says
The United States as the guarantor of the Gaza peace deal must ensure Israel doesn’t restart the war once it gets its captives back from Hamas, says Mustafa Barghouti from the Palestinian National Initiative.
“The [troop] withdrawal can be done in stages, but two things have to be clear: Israel cannot keep inside Gaza any points under their occupation, and Israel must give up this idea of keeping 25 percent of Gaza under their control,” Barghouti told Al Jazeera.
After 92 percent of the territory has been destroyed, the Palestinians “need every inch” of it to rebuild their shattered lives, he added.
The unprecedented global support for the Palestinian cause must continue even after the war, said Barghouti.
“This international solidarity movement must not be defused. What we’re struggling for is not just the end of the war, it’s the freedom of the Palestinian people and the end of Israeli occupation.”
More scepticism that Netanyahu will follow through on deal
All eyes will be on Israel’s leader after any peace deal with Hamas is reached to see if he’ll fulfill all of the ceasefire’s obligations, unlike the last truce, a former Israeli diplomat says.
“He said he’s committed to the negotiations on phase one, he did not say anything about the further phases of the Trump plan,” Alon Pinkas told Al Jazeera.
Pinkas said he’s concerned Netanyahu will “renege” as he did in March when he broke the last ceasefire.
“It is against Netanyahu’s interests to end the war right now because that would require an Israeli withdrawal. At this point I just hope that the hostages come back in a prisoner exchange, but I am very sceptical about the other stages,” said Pinkas.
“He’s reached the point where he tells his coalition what they want to hear, or he tells Trump what he wants to hear. He can’t keep lying to both.”
Trump says Hamas ‘very important’ issues
US President Donald Trump said Monday that Hamas was agreeing to “very important” issues as the Palestinian armed group opened indirect talks with Israel on a Gaza peace deal.
“I think we’re doing very well and I think Hamas has been agreeing to things that are very important,” Trump said when asked about the talks by reporters in the Oval Office.
The problem isn't Hamas, it's Netanyahu and his coalition.
