In a move that should surprise no one, Hamas has officially rejected the latest deal touted by President Biden as the solution to end the conflict in Gaza. This marks the 56879870384th deal Hamas has turned down. However, Biden had claimed this deal was different.
This time, the proposal wasn’t created by Israel. Instead, Secretary of State Antony Blinken admitted that the deal was based on a proposal originally drawn up by Hamas themselves. Blinken stated that the deal, nearly identical to the one Hamas proposed on May 6, should have required little convincing for Hamas to accept.
To recap, President Biden announced this supposed “miracle” deal, attributing it to Israel, and did so on the Sabbath, preventing the Israeli government from immediately responding. The deal did not align with Israel’s demands, leading the Israeli Prime Minister to refute it as misinformation.
Blinken then assured that Hamas would accept the deal because they had originally written it. Despite this, Hamas rejected the proposal, showing they never intended to make a deal.
This scenario seems to highlight an ongoing issue: the Biden administration’s approach appears to undermine Israel’s position against Hamas. Blinken’s attempt to pass off Hamas’ proposal as a resolution for Israel to accept can be seen as a diplomatic ambush rather than a genuine effort to broker peace.
Hamas maintains that they will not accept any deal that does not include Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza, a condition Israel finds unacceptable given their current control over the region. Israel remains steadfast in their position, refusing any deal that undermines their efforts in the conflict.
Recently, there was a brief moment of hope when four hostages were rescued in Operation Arnon. However, large-scale rescue operations remain complex and fraught with difficulty, making it unlikely that all hostages can be freed this way.
Despite being offered reasonable deals and facing a military stalemate, Hamas continues to refuse any common-sense offers. It seems that President Biden’s actions, perceived as a betrayal by some, have emboldened Hamas. The increased support for Hamas, both ideologically and within the United States, has bolstered their resolve.
As negotiations continue, it’s clear that a deal is unlikely until Hamas becomes significantly more desperate. Strong, decisive action is necessary to bring about an end to this conflict. Until then, negotiations may just be for show, as both sides remain entrenched in their positions.