The thorny road to peace

Given the current situation, the prospect of resuming negotiations to achieve a lasting ceasefire in Gaza remains dim.

More than 400 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were killed in Israeli attacks on March 18. (Source: The New York Times)

The conflict flared up when Israel resumed Operation Power and Sword, launching a series of large-scale airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on March 18, killing more than 400 people.

Israel's action ended a fragile period of calm following a three-phase ceasefire agreement brokered by the US and Egypt earlier this year that took effect on January 19.

According to The Guardian , this action was explained by Tel Aviv as a way to prevent Hamas from “reorganizing and preparing for a new attack”. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that the country’s resumption of the Gaza offensive was not a “one-day campaign”. He also confirmed that the Trump administration “was informed in advance and supported this attack”.

Meanwhile, Hamas condemned Israel's series of airstrikes as "tactics aimed at breaking the will of the Palestinian people", and called on the United Nations, humanitarian organizations and the international community to hold Tel Aviv responsible.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to resume hostilities is a decision to sacrifice the hostages and a death sentence for them. Tel Aviv will not achieve its goals through conflict and destruction,” said Izzat al-Risheq, a member of Hamas’ political wing.

After the first phase of the ceasefire agreement ended on March 1, Hamas called on Israel to enter into dialogue to enter the second phase, in which the group would release all hostages and the Israeli army would withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya said in Cairo, Egypt, on March 14 that the group is “fully ready to start negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in a responsible and positive manner.” However, Tel Aviv wants to extend the first phase of the agreement until mid-April, stressing that the Gaza Strip must be “completely demilitarized” and the Hamas armed group must be eliminated before moving to the second phase.

With both sides holding very different positions and accusing the other side of obstructing the dialogue efforts, the negotiations have fallen into a deadlock. In addition, Israel's power cut and blockade of aid shipments to the Gaza Strip since March 9 have further intensified tensions between the two sides. The deadlock in negotiations and concerns about Hamas's resurgence have led Israel to decide to launch a preemptive strike. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that "negotiations from now on will only take place under fire" - clearly showing Tel Aviv's hardline stance.

Israel's renewed attacks on the Gaza Strip have drawn criticism from many countries and international organizations. Arab countries such as Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain... condemned Tel Aviv's actions, emphasizing that only a two-state solution can end the violence.

The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is rapidly deteriorating as Israel blocks aid and demands Palestinians continue to evacuate. Türkiye, Germany, France... are concerned that Israel's escalation of attacks could completely disrupt dialogue efforts.

However, the condemnation from the international community does not seem to be enough to force Israel to change its strategy. A real peace solution for the Gaza Strip will require more than statements of condemnation, especially in the context of the US administration still maintaining its stance of supporting Tel Aviv.

As things stand, the prospects of resuming negotiations to achieve a lasting ceasefire in Gaza remain dim. The path to peace in the long-suffering strip of land has become more thorny than ever.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tinh-hinh-dai-gaza-con-duong-hoa-binh-chong-gai-308227.html