Hamas is not concerned: Israel will continue war in Gaza despite truce with Hezbollah

Israel will not change its position on Hamas after the truce with Hezbollah, which came into effect on November 27, Dmitry Gendelman, an adviser to the prime minister of the Jewish state, told Izvestia. According to him, the conclusion of the agreement and the actual neutralization of the Lebanese movement will make it possible to increase pressure on "terrorists in Gaza." Hamas, meanwhile, is ready to cease fire in the sector, the media say. On how the Middle East settlement will develop - in the exclusive material of "Izvestia".

Israel and Hezbollah have concluded a truce

Israel's military-political cabinet approved a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, it came into force on November 27 at about 10-11 a.m. Moscow time. According to the agreement, Israel is obliged to withdraw its troops from Lebanon within 60 days, and Hezbollah must move its armed formations north of the Litani River. The agreement also provides for Lebanon's control of the southern border with the support of the UN Interim Force (UNIFIL).

Also, Hezbollah and other armed groups on Lebanese territory must cease offensive actions against Israel, and Israel pledges to refrain from striking any targets in Lebanon. Notably, Hezbollah itself, which did not take part in the direct ceasefire talks, has not yet officially commented on the agreement. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri participated in the dialog as a mediator.

Israel and Lebanese authorities recognized the importance of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which aimed to end the 2006 war. Under the new agreement, only Lebanon's official armed forces will be authorized to bear arms and use force in the south. The Lebanese government is also committed to controlling the sale and distribution of lethal weapons. All military infrastructure and unauthorized facilities involved in its production will be dismantled. In addition, a special committee is expected to be set up to suit both sides and to monitor the fulfillment of all these commitments. It is also reported that Washington will facilitate indirect negotiations between the countries to reach a recognized land border.

- A ceasefire agreement can be long-term if the provisions that have been announced are actually implemented. Then we can actually talk about the cessation of war in the Lebanese theater of hostilities," RIAC Program Coordinator Ivan Bocharov told Izvestia.

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Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called the incident an important step toward calm and stability in Lebanon, as well as the return of previously displaced persons.

- We emphasize Lebanon's commitment to the implementation of resolution 1701, to strengthening the army's presence in the south and to cooperating with UNIFIL. I demand that Israel fully implement the ceasefire, withdrawal and compliance with resolution 1701," he said.

The U.S. was the main mediator in the deal. At the same time, Washington even published a letter of guarantee, according to which the U.S. and Israeli sides will monitor possible violations of the agreements "Hazbollah". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized: his country retains full freedom of action, in case of any violation by Hezbollah will be struck and the fighting will resume.

Israeli media say that the Jewish state was pushed to the conclusion of the agreement for three reasons. So, it is about the plans of the authorities to focus on the threat from Iran. It is worth noting that Tehran this year twice struck Israeli territory. In addition, the authorities want to give some units a break in the fighting and restore the stockpile of weapons. That said, delays by the United States are likely to have played an important role here. And they can obviously be lifted after Donald Trump returns to the White House.

- This is no longer the same Hezbollah, we've taken it back decades. We have eliminated all of the organization's top officials, thousands of terrorists, we have destroyed most of the missile facilities and infrastructure it had built near our border. Just three months ago all this would have sounded like science fiction, but we did it," said the Israeli Prime Minister.

Can Israel reach a deal with Hamas

The cessation of hostilities with Hezbollah will allow the Jewish state to increase pressure on Hamas.

- Israel's position remains unchanged: the destruction of Hamas power and the release of all our kidnapped citizens. The conclusion of a truce with Lebanon and the actual neutralization of Hezbollah will be able to help increase pressure on the terrorists in Gaza and bring them closer to the stated goals of the war," Dmitry Gendelman, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Dmitry Gendelman, told Izvestia.

Although Hamas has already said it is ready to agree to a truce with Israel, it is Hamas that is preventing such an initiative.

- We have informed the mediators in Egypt, Qatar and Turkey that Hamas is ready for a ceasefire and a serious prisoner exchange deal," said a Palestinian movement spokesman.

Fighting Hezbollah required significant resources on the part of the IDF. Now the Israel Defense Forces may seize the chance to "finish" the Palestinian movement. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the Jewish state will agree to an agreement with Hamas. Although we should not forget that recently Israel, through the mediation of Qatar, tried to agree on a temporary ceasefire and the return of some of the hostages. At the same time, two men with Russian citizenship are still being held in Gaza.

- The ceasefire in Lebanon has nothing to do with the Gaza Strip. "We are still conducting military operations in Gaza to bring the hostages home," IDF spokeswoman Anna Ukolova told Izvestia.

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No full-scale peace agreement between Israel and Hamas should be expected now, said Andrei Baklanov, deputy chairman of the Association of Russian Diplomats and professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. According to him, Israeli political circles and the media are spinning "invasive rhetoric" - they are starting to talk about the possibility of Jewish settlements in Gaza.

- With such powerful messages to change the status of the land, it is difficult to count on a serious settlement. That is why we will talk about some fractional, temporary agreements related to the advancement of the prisoner exchange issue or creating the appearance of it, but no more than that," Andrei Baklanov said in a conversation with Izvestia.

In his opinion, Israel is not interested in establishing full-fledged peace in the Gaza Strip, and therefore even mediation efforts are unlikely to lead to a serious shift. Especially given the arrival in the White House of Donald Trump, who may increase military support for the US partner. A long-term solution to the conflict is impossible because Jewish authorities at this stage do not seem committed to the formula of two independent states, Israel and Palestine. This is not surprising given that Netanyahu has created one of the most right-wing cabinets in the country's history. Although it is precisely the observance of the UN Security Council resolution on the creation of two states, according to many countries, including Russia or China, that is the only way out of the crisis.

On the other hand, it is not necessarily that a new phase of escalation will now begin in Gaza, says Ivan Bocharov. Earlier Izvestia wrote that three Israeli divisions remain in the sector. The 162nd continues its efforts to destroy Hamas in the Jabaliya area. The 252nd Division in coordination with the Air Force is conducting its combat operations in the central part. In the south are the forces of the Gaza Division.