This “new” hostage exchange deal sounds like a similar deal that Israel had just recently disagreed to because they had plans for Rafah and wanted to continue on with their genocide and annihilation of Gaza. This deal that the US has been pushing is another six week ceasefire in exchange for hostages, though the amount of hostages to be exchanged seems to differ from the dejected hostage deal.
However, the UN has just demanded that countries sanction and embargo Israel, which is the first major call from an international organization for world leaders to take the action that they have so far not taken to uphold international humanitarian law.
What seems to be happening is the US attempting to draw the war on Gaza out as long as they can. They vote against any hopes for a ceasefire in the UNSC and then keep Palestinians suffering as they supposedly negotiate, but what the US is not admitting is that they have considerable fiscal control of Israel and could easily leverage that, but do not. This all feels like a way for Israel to buy time in order to attack Gaza and keep the world waiting to see if there could be some reprieve to the war.
Will this hostage exchange/truce pass? Everyone involved in the last deal said Israel was showing signs of approving it and at the last minute, Israel abruptly rebuffed the agreement and increased their attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. Fool us once, shame on you; fool us twice, shame on me. This all appears a bit too performative, but what really makes this entire truce negotiation seem like it will be fruitless is that Israel has just denounced a similar package and proclaimed their intent for war.
What good will a six week pause in fighting do for Gaza? Just after the last truce in Gaza, everyone was hopeful that it would turn into a permanent ceasefire, but it did not, and Israel has always stated their goal is to crush Hamas and that they view Gaza as a threat.
What will the world leaders do if Israel refuses this latest hostage exchange/truce?
From the river to the sea, may Palestine be free. May the whole world be free.
Protest
Boycott
Vote 3rd party
BE UNGOVERNABLE
Donate
Disrupt everything
Demand sanctions and embargoes for Israel, US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, and Australia.
Please extend your energy to other countries and people facing genocide and atrocities- Sudan, Congo, West Papua, the Rohingyas, Armenians, and the Uyghurs.
Article for reference (please read and share):
The Guardian: Joe Biden hopeful a Gaza ceasefire could be reached by next Monday