Opinion A lasting ceasefire remains distant in West Asia – peace even more so

When Israel and Hamas reached a three-phase ceasefire on January 19, there was a glimmer of hope for the war-torn Gaza Strip, much of which lies in ruins. But building on the deal to move towards a permanent peace was riddled with challenges from Day One. While the first phase concluded on March 1, negotiations for phase two — aimed at ending the war with the total withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of all hostages — never began. To pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages, Israel cut off aid and electricity to Gaza. It broke the ceasefire on March 18, carrying out airstrikes that killed more than 400 people and left hundreds more injured. Following this, a ground offensive was launched as forces moved up to the Netzarim Corridor, which divides the north and south of Gaza. With the war having all but resumed and the US expected to provide unconditional support to Israel, West Asia, yet again, is being plunged into the dark.

The airstrikes are part of Israel’s strategy to force concessions from Hamas, which still has 59 hostages in captivity, and was reluctant to give up leverage without a definitive move to the second phase. This strategy imposes further suffering on a Palestinian population already enduring catastrophic living conditions. The resumption of hostilities does not help the predicament of the remaining hostages either, as Hamas will continue to use them as leverage. Indeed, families of these hostages have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “giving up” on them.

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The war arguably keeps Netanyahu in power given that he needs the support of right-wing hawks who have rallied against every ceasefire proposal. One far-right politician who quit the government over the ceasefire has returned. Netanyahu’s appearance in his corruption trial has been postponed. Votes crucial to his survival are scheduled in the legislature. But the only way forward is not through a continuation of Netanyahu’s politics as usual. It is through a negotiated settlement that maps out an end to the war and the return of the hostages. There was some movement towards this when an Arab-led plan for Gaza’s reconstruction was presented to the US and Israel, but it was rejected. Reducing Gaza to rubble will not achieve Israel’s goal of obliterating Hamas. The US has confirmed that Hamas has already recruited as many fighters as it had lost. Intensified violence, along with the suspension of humanitarian aid, will only fuel further resistance. Sustained dialogue alone can lead to a long-lasting ceasefire. But until the Israeli Prime Minister stops focusing on clinging to power, a long-lasting ceasefire will remain a distant prospect, and peace even more so.