Calm or storm: Hamas discusses cease-fire in Gaza with mediators

Hamas is discussing a cease-fire with the mediators and is ready to fulfill the terms of the agreement, a source in the movement told Izvestia. On March 18, the IDF resumed attacks on the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the attacks continued due to Hamas' refusal to accept the American plan to extend the ceasefire and release the hostages. The plan called for prolonging the truce until April 19 and the release of five living prisoners in exchange for the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners. The Wall Street Journal reported that Israel is planning a major ground offensive in Gaza.

Hamas is ready to return to the ceasefire

The Hamas movement does not refuse to participate in the negotiations and is ready to fulfill the terms of a possible agreement. This was reported to Izvestia by a source in the movement. According to him, despite the complication of the situation, Hamas continues to work with intermediaries and remains flexible in dialogue. On March 4, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) resumed massive strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Benjamin Netanyahu said that this was a response to Hamas' refusal to accept the plan proposed by the United States to extend the ceasefire and release the hostages. At the same time, according to the Wall Street Journal, Israel is considering launching a large-scale ground offensive in Gaza in the near future.

— We demonstrate a high level of flexibility in our approach to negotiations. We continue to communicate with intermediaries and respond positively to their initiatives," the source told Izvestia.

According to media reports, Egyptian representatives have held intensive talks with the Israeli, American and Palestinian sides in recent days. Cairo's plan calls for an immediate cease—fire, providing Hamas with detailed information on the condition of the Israeli hostages — alive, dead and wounded - with video evidence, and then moving on to negotiations on the gradual release of all prisoners in exchange for a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.

Statements by the American Special Representative for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, added to the complex picture of the negotiations. In an interview with Fox News, he admitted that in early March he considered that an agreement had been reached with Hamas on a "transitional plan" to extend the truce. However, it later became clear that the agreement was not final.

"I thought we had an acceptable deal. I was even sure that I had received the consent of Hamas. Maybe I was just tricked. I was sure that we were at the finish line, but it turned out that this was not the case," Witkoff said, recalling his trip to Doha on March 12.

According to him, the plan he proposed provided for the extension of the truce until April 19 and the release of five living hostages by Hamas in exchange for the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners. Israel, according to Witkoff, agreed to his proposal.

Nevertheless, Hamas continued to insist on fulfilling the initial conditions of the agreement, in which the key element of the second phase was the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and agreement to end the war. The issue of disarming Hamas has become a serious problem in the negotiations. The Palestinian movement links this process with the political settlement of the conflict.

— The idea of disarming the group can be realized only through a political process that will end with the proclamation of a Palestinian state. Before demanding this, it is necessary to provide evidence of the possibility of creating such a state," Tarek al-Bardisi, an Egyptian international relations specialist, told Izvestia.

Resumption of hostilities in Gaza

On March 14, according to the American diplomat, Hamas issued its demands for the release of the last living American-Israeli hostage and the transfer of the bodies of four other dead citizens of the United States and Israel. However, Witkoff said that the demands of the Palestinian movement are doomed to failure. Four days later, the Israeli army resumed fighting in Gaza, effectively ending a two-month truce.

— The pace of the operation will only increase in the near future, and the transition of the Israelis to large—scale ground operations is rather a matter of time. Moreover, Washington does not react in any way to the gradual increase in the degree of escalation by the Israelis," orientalist Leonid Tsukanov told Izvestia.

The IDF has increased the scale of air strikes, targeting members of the Hamas political bureau and, apparently, seeking to disrupt the movement's control system as much as possible, the expert added.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Israel is considering a large-scale ground operation in Gaza. It is expected that in the coming weeks, the army may begin advancing into the Rafah area and the central parts of the sector. The operation will be aimed at destroying the Hamas infrastructure, despite the risks of a sharp deterioration in the humanitarian situation.

Israeli officials say that negotiations cannot continue indefinitely in a situation where Hamas is "playing for time" and refuses realistic proposals. Against this background, statements about the need for a military solution are becoming more active.

— Given that the previous ceasefire was largely concluded under pressure from the United States, it caused considerable disappointment among the far-right wing. This even provoked the exodus of a number of ministers led by Ben-Gwer (who returned to the cabinet only a few days ago, after the resumption of hostilities). It is not surprising that the official Tel Aviv got rid of the inconvenient agreement at the first opportunity," Leonid Tsukanov said.

All this puts the Middle East diplomatic agenda at a dead end. On the one hand, Hamas demonstrates its willingness to participate in the negotiation process and make concessions, but at the same time demands guarantees for the cessation of the Israeli military operation and the lifting of the blockade. On the other hand, Israel firmly defends its terms and categorically refuses to discuss the prospect of a complete withdrawal of troops and the end of the conflict.

There are still 59 Israeli hostages in captivity by Hamas, among them Maxim Kharkin, a native of Donbass. The Palestinian movement had warned the day before that Israel's actions were effectively condemning them to death. Maxim was not included in the list of hostages who were supposed to be released at the first stage of the deal. Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow intends to continue working on Harkin's return home as soon as possible.