Efforts by mediators to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and secure the release of prisoners between Israel and Hamas continue. Talks mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States are ongoing this week in Cairo, following a two-day meeting in Doha last week that focused on bridging gaps regarding proposals put forth by Washington. However, significant gaps still exist between Israel and Hamas, according to Israeli, Palestinian, and other sources familiar with the talks.
Lieutenant General Mohamed Ibrahim Al-Dwairy, Deputy Director of the Egyptian Center for Strategic and Political Studies, told "Al Arabiya.net" that "what is currently happening is that we are in a stage closer to achieving the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that we have been seeking since November 2023, but we must say that this desired ceasefire becomes elusive if the Israeli position remains rigid, adhering to stances that could bring us back to square one."
The Egyptian expert revealed that "there are still disagreements on the detailed aspects of implementing the ceasefire, such as the mechanisms and controls for the return of displaced persons currently in southern and central Gaza to northern Gaza, as well as the nature of the Israeli military withdrawal from important areas like the Netzarim and Philadelphia axes, the operation of the Rafah crossing, and the nature of the prisoners to be released by both sides." He added that despite this, there is still a possibility to resolve most of these issues, emphasizing that Egypt will not accept, in any form, the continued presence of Israeli forces at either the Rafah crossing or the Philadelphia axis.
He noted that while "acknowledging that solving these issues is not as easy as some might think due to the complicated situation on the ground, the biggest dilemma lies in the absence of a willingness to resolve these issues on the part of the Israeli Prime Minister, who arranges his priorities according to his interests, primarily to maintain the ruling coalition and leave this war as a complete victor in accordance with his vision, which many, including security and military institutions, disagree with."
Al-Dwairy continued, "If the Doha negotiations have stirred stagnant waters, the Cairo talks should ideally lead to a comprehensive agreement on all main and subsidiary issues so that the ceasefire can begin as soon as possible, meaning within the next few days in order to put an end to the largest humanitarian disaster in modern history, which the international community has dealt with routinely and ineffectively so far."
He mentioned that "if Washington has intensified its efforts during this period in what could almost be considered unprecedented, as U.S. Secretary of State Blinken has visited the region for the ninth or tenth time since the beginning of the war on Gaza, then it is neither logical nor conceivable that these American efforts will end without achieving the expected results. He added that reaching a ceasefire has become extremely necessary not only to solve the Palestinian issue but also to allow humanitarian aid in and stop the killings and destruction that no one expected to reach this level."
The Egyptian expert added that "if the recent tripartite statement issued by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States has emphasized that there is no time to waste, what is now required is for Washington to exert real pressure on Israel, which should exceed all red lines in the relations between the two states, and I hope to see that, even once, especially since the ceasefire is becoming based on what is called President Biden's proposals."
According to the Egyptian expert, "if the international community awaits the Iranian response to Israel at any moment due to its recent assassination of Haniya while he was in Tehran and the prominent Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr in Beirut, as well as what this expected response could lead to in terms of an explosion of the situation across the region, there is certainly a glimmer of hope that could alleviate or contain the severity of this expected response; I mean halting the war in Gaza, which necessitates the United States taking more effective action than in its previous operations, as this is the only way to reach a ceasefire."
He added that it is clear that a snowball effect is gradually rolling through the region, and the only thing that could temporarily stop it is reaching a ceasefire. Here, I must raise the following question directed at American officials: Have Israeli interests become more important than U.S. strategic interests? He followed with another question: Is Washington waiting for further deterioration of its position in the region and indeed in the world due to the extreme Israeli stances?
Al-Dwairy stated that it is known that Netanyahu adopts all positions that hinder reaching a ceasefire and imposes new conditions at each stage of the negotiations, and has not yet shown any flexibility that can be built upon. However, the question remains: How long will the world continue to deal with a state that sees itself above the law and whose Prime Minister challenges the entire world under security pretexts, heading with his policies towards igniting the region, unconcerned with internal opposition or regional and international rejection of his policies?
In summary, the Egyptian expert states that a ceasefire in Gaza has become not just an attempt to stop the gunfire, but a final and real test for the United States and the international community as a whole, asking whether this world will succeed in this test or remain merely monitoring, condemning, and denouncing, caring only about the humanitarian side, which it has not succeeded in achieving.
Lieutenant General Al-Dwairy explained that "time has become a sword hanging over the stability and security of the region, and therefore it has become essential for the conflicting parties to respond to the mediators' efforts this time, or should we wait for a regional war that would undermine everyone's interests?"
He concluded by stating, "I must point out that the opportunity remains available for success, and we must seize it before it is too late; the coming days, indeed, the coming hours have become far more important than before."
