Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas are “on the brink of collapsing,” according to Politico. While Israel accepted the United States’ latest ceasefire proposal, Hamas publicly and emphatically rejected it. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the proposal “probably the best, maybe the last opportunity to get the hostages home, to get a ceasefire, and to put everyone on a better path to enduring peace and security.”
“We don’t know if [Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya] Sinwar wants this deal,” an official familiar with the U.S. position on the negotiations said. “But if we don’t get the deal, there’s a chance that Iran attacks and this escalates into a full blown confrontation.”
While things can change quickly in war, the breakdown in negotiations threatens the likelihood of the safe return of the hostages. Ten months have already passed, and both Hamas and Israel are likely losing patience quickly. During these ten months, Israel has had to balance its desires to save the lives of more than 100 hostages and to defend its nation by dismantling Hamas entirely. Israel remains on alert daily for a large-scale assault. Though it appeared Iran would deal the blow last week, Hezbollah now seems more likely to make a significant attack from the north. Despite these threats, Israel’s safety remains in God’s hands above all else.
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