A deal to end the more than a year-long conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon has come into effect, but hopes for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip remain unclear. International eyes are now on Gaza after a ceasefire took effect in Lebanon early Wednesday morning. But analysts say there is no sign of a quick deal. British news agency Reuters reported this news.
US President Joe Biden called for the resumption of efforts to establish a deal in Gaza after announcing the deal in Lebanon on Tuesday. But Israeli leaders have made clear that their war against Hamas has a different goal than Lebanon's.
Israel's agriculture minister and former head of Shin Bet's internal intelligence agency Avi Dichter said Gaza will never again be a threat to Israel. We will achieve a final victory there. The situation in Lebanon is different.
He also said, we are not at the end of the Gaza campaign. We still have a lot of work to do.
There are currently 101 Israeli hostages in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to release the hostages and eliminate Hamas. However, the talks between the two sides have been stalled for a long time.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri accused Israel of inflexibility and said, “We hope that the Lebanon agreement paves the way for a solution in Gaza as well.” But Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of not participating in honest negotiations.
The 14-month conflict has destroyed much of Gaza and killed some 44,000 Palestinians. Israeli forces are attacking Gaza daily, aiming to completely destroy Hamas.
News of the cease-fire in Lebanon has created despair among the people of Gaza. They feel they have been forgotten. But some hope to discuss Gaza after Lebanon.
Ayesha, a woman living in a camp in Gaza, said they say that when it rains in one place, good things happen in another. We hope, after Lebanon, the focus will be on Gaza.
Egypt has long played a mediating role in the Gaza issue. The country is looking at the possibility of renegotiation. Egyptian security sources said Israel could renegotiate Gaza if the deal in Lebanon is sustainable.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that President Biden will take a new initiative on the Gaza issue with relevant parties including Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt from Wednesday.
However, there is uncertainty about how the situation will be after Donald Trump takes office as president in January. Trump is known for his strong support for Israel and from previous experience the Palestinians are skeptical of his initiatives.
Ofer Shelah, a researcher at Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies, said that while it is possible to separate the Lebanon and Gaza crises, their long-term effects may be negative. Because now there will be no pressure on Israel with Gaza.
The prospect of a cease-fire in Gaza is further complicated by Netanyahu's right-wing alliance in Israeli politics. Many coalition members want to occupy Gaza and oppose the Lebanon accord.
Israeli Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter said a peace deal in Gaza is not possible, because we will be there for a long time.
