Continued Conflict in Gaza and West Bank Amid Cease-Fire Negotiations
While discussions in Qatar are approaching the “final stage” of a cease-fire agreement aimed at halting the U.S.-supported Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, Israeli military actions persisted on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of more Palestinians within the blockaded coastal region and the illegally occupied West Bank.
Since the Hamas-initiated attack on October 7, 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have reportedly killed at least 46,645 Palestinians in Gaza and injured 110,012, with over 10,000 individuals still unaccounted for, as stated by health officials on Tuesday. A peer-reviewed study released last week in The Lancet suggests that these numbers might be underreported by as much as 41% since last June.
Reports from the Palestinian National Authority’s agency WAFA on Tuesday indicated that IDF artillery fire resulted in the deaths of at least two civilians at the Nuseirat refugee camp. Additionally, a correspondent in Gaza City reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted residences in the Sheikh Radwan area of Gaza City and in the Manara neighborhood of Khan Younis City, killing several civilians and wounding others.
Other media sources reported that Israeli forces killed at least 13 individuals in an attack on a residence in Deir al-Balah.
Israel is currently facing a genocide lawsuit at the International Court of Justice due to its operations in Gaza. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri.
Over the past 15 months, in addition to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Israel has intensified its military operations in the West Bank. A recent strike in the Jenin refugee camp resulted in the deaths of at least six Palestinians and injured several others. The Times of Israel reported that the IDF conducted the strike in collaboration with the Shin Bet, though details were limited.
The same publication noted that thousands of people gathered for a unity rally in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Tuesday evening, as has become customary. Meanwhile, hundreds of right-wing protestors obstructed a central intersection in Jerusalem, demonstrating against the ongoing hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
A draft plan accessed by The Associated Press outlines a three-stage cease-fire deal beginning with a cessation of hostilities, prisoner exchanges, the return of displaced Gazans to their homes, and increased humanitarian aid.
The second phase of the agreement would establish a “sustainable calm,” with Hamas releasing more hostages in exchange for additional Palestinian prisoners and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, as reported by AP. The final stage would involve an exchange of bodies, a reconstruction initiative for Gaza, and the reopening of border crossings.
Jeremy Scahill of Drop Site News criticized the negotiations, noting that the terms were similar to those proposed by outgoing President Joe Biden last May, accusing Biden of allowing Netanyahu to dominate the discussions and rewarding Israel with substantial military aid and political backing after initially rejecting the cease-fire proposal.
As U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his inauguration next Monday, he has advocated for a resolution to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Trump’s involvement suggests a shift in the U.S. stance, as he has warned of severe actions against Hamas if Israeli hostages are not released and has also pressed Netanyahu to meet his demands.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu assured the families of hostages that he is open to a prolonged cease-fire in exchange for their return, as reported by Haaretz. Later, The Times of Israel reported ongoing meetings between Netanyahu, Israel’s hostage negotiation team, and security establishment officials, with expectations of negotiations continuing overnight.
Despite potential progress in Gaza, concerns remain about continued violence in the West Bank. Sami Al-Arian, a Palestinian analyst, expressed fears to Scahill that although the Gaza conflict might end, a new conflict could emerge in the West Bank, potentially driven by settlers and the Netanyahu government.
Muhammad Shehada, a writer and analyst from Gaza, shared insights from a senior Arab official who claimed that the U.S. president-elect urged Qataris and Egyptians to finalize a deal before taking office. However, Netanyahu has been stalling, issuing misleading statements about progress to delay until Trump assumes office, potentially to negotiate terms favorable to Israeli interests in the West Bank.
As a cease-fire in Gaza appears imminent, Israel has expanded its offensive operations in the West Bank, according to Middle East expert Assal Rad, who shared a video on social media of the recent strike on Jenin. Rad noted that the ongoing violence is part of a long history of conflict, emphasizing that it has always been a war against Palestinian existence.
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