Gershon Baskin on Gaza Ceasefire Deal, Complicity, and Hamas's Next Steps

Ceasefire Deal Dynamics

• 🎯 A ceasefire plan, accepted by Hamas and forwarded by Egypt, is under Israeli review, with a reported 60-day truce and partial hostage release.
• 💡 Hamas initially sought a comprehensive deal to end the war and secure Israeli withdrawal, but was pressured by Egypt and Qatar to accept a partial agreement.
• ⚠️ Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly desires a complete deal, which Baskin interprets as Hamas surrender, an outcome he deems impossible, suggesting Israel wishes to prolong the war.

Hostages and Government Priorities

• 🎗️ The hostages are described as victims, with their well-being often not being the Israeli government's top priority, as indicated by Netanyahu's statement linking their return to winning the war.
• 📈 Baskin highlights the ongoing destruction of Gaza and the high death toll, suggesting that only significant international intervention can end the conflict, not Netanyahu alone.

International Complicity and Leverage

• 🌍 Countries with relations with Israel are urged to use their leverage, including sanctions, to stop the conflict, as their inaction makes them complicit in what Baskin terms a genocide.
• 🗣️ Statements of changing attitudes towards Israel are insufficient; real pressure through conditional sanctions and trade restrictions is needed to compel Israel to end the war and withdraw from Gaza.

Hamas's Proposed Path Forward

• 📝 Hamas needs to publicly state its demands and terms for ending the war, including a willingness to release all hostages within 48 hours and to not continue governing Gaza.
• 🤝 They should work with other Palestinian factions to establish an alternative government and offer security guarantees to Israel, such as a no-go perimeter.
• ✍️ A written, implementable, and verifiable agreement, submitted through mediators to the US, is crucial for ending the war, especially if Israel rejects the current deal.

Humanitarian Aid and UNRWA

• 🚚 The proposed deal includes increasing humanitarian aid to 600 trucks daily, with fuel, water, and medical equipment, to be distributed by international organizations, not the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
• 🚫 The closure of UNRWA is noted as a factor, though Baskin questions the justification for shutting down the entire operation, emphasizing the need for international organizations to manage aid distribution effectively.