America's Efforts to Impose a 'New Ceasefire Plan' on Hamas

Israeli and American media have reported on a new effort by the U.S. government for a ceasefire in the Gaza war. Simultaneously, thousands of Israeli protesters on Saturday night, July 9, once again called for the resignation of the Prime Minister and acceptance of a deal with the extremist group Hamas for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. CNN and Axios reported on Saturday that the U.S. is asking Egypt and Qatar to pressure Hamas to accept a new version of a three-phase ceasefire plan presented by the U.S. President last month. The governments of Doha and Cairo have been mediators in the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in recent months. Hamas is recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S. and the European Union, with its main leaders residing in Qatar. The Egyptian intelligence agency has also been a key player in efforts to resolve conflicts between Israel and Hamas prior to the current war. According to CNN, the goal of the new text prepared by the U.S. is to bridge the current gaps between Israel and Hamas, and the language of the proposal has been altered in an attempt to gain acceptance from Hamas. In response to last month's proposal, Hamas demanded 'revisions' that Israel deemed unacceptable. Osama Hamdan, a Hamas official in Lebanon, stated on Saturday, July 9, at a press conference in Beirut that the last proposal his group received was on July 4, and it did not meet Hamas's demands for a permanent ceasefire and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Hamdan added that any proposal that does not include Hamas's main demands regarding a ceasefire and withdrawal is a 'waste of time.' An Israeli government official stated on Saturday night that Benjamin Netanyahu's government is 'committed' to the proposal announced by Joe Biden. Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Minister have stated in recent days that the Israeli army will soon enter 'Phase Three' of the Gaza war, which involves reducing military operations in Gaza. However, Israeli forces will remain in Gaza. The Gaza war began 268 days ago with Hamas's attack on Israeli territory, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 253 others. Palestinian casualties in the war, including killed militants, have reached 37,834 so far. Protests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem have seen police violently confront some participants on Saturday night. Protesters demanded the resignation of Netanyahu's government and early elections. The protesters in Tel Aviv later joined the families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, who were holding another protest near the Ministry of Defense and the entrance to Israel's Highway 1. Reserve General Noam Tibon, who joined Israeli forces in the Gaza war, stated in a speech to the protesters that Netanyahu has forgotten the freedom of the hostage citizens. This Israeli figure mentioned that at least two other deals had been on the table in the past seven months that could have led to the release of more abducted citizens, but Netanyahu rejected the proposals 'due to political motives and dependence' on extremist politicians. The Israeli police, in response to the statements of Naama Lazimi, a parliament member who was injured by the police, claimed she was 'disturbing' police forces during the arrest of individuals attempting to set fire to the 'Histadrut' building, the workers' union. Protesters had set fire rings near this building. Noa Argamani, a 25-year-old Israeli woman who was a Hamas hostage in Gaza for over eight months and was recently freed in a special operation by Israeli commandos, called on the government to negotiate for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza during her first media appearance on Saturday night. Ms. Argamani stated that she returned to her sick cancer-stricken parents thanks to the 'sacrifice' of the commandos and at the cost of the death of the commando commander, but the remaining Israelis held hostage by Hamas are suffering greatly and must be returned to their families. 116 Israelis remain in Hamas's custody, with Israel confirming the deaths of about 45 of them but emphasizing that the return of their bodies will also be part of any potential deal with Hamas.