Latest news with #WitkoffPlan
Ammon
2 days ago
- Politics
- Ammon
The thin line between explosion and détente in Gaza
The Witkoff Plan is one of the most prominent international initiatives proposed to halt the devastating war on the Gaza Strip, which has entered its final months amid profound political, military, and humanitarian complications. While the plan came in response to mounting international pressure, particularly from the Trump administration, the positions of both Israel and Hamas have ranged from conditional acceptance to cautious rejection. This makes the future of this plan contingent on a set of complex internal, regional, and international equations, and makes studying possible scenarios a matter of strategic importance. The Witkoff Plan, proposed under US sponsorship and led by President Donald Trump and his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, aims for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for 60 days, with US guarantees, as a prelude to reaching a permanent agreement. It stipulates the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 bodies from a list of hostages, in exchange for the release of 125 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,111 detainees from Gaza, in addition to the handover of 180 Palestinian bodies. The plan includes a cessation of Israeli military operations, a restriction of military air traffic, and the redeployment of Israeli forces northward and then southward, according to agreed-upon maps. It also stipulates the entry of humanitarian aid under the supervision of the United Nations and the Red Crescent. Negotiations on a permanent ceasefire will begin on the first day of the truce, and will address the exchange of the remaining hostages, redeployment, security arrangements, and the "day after" for Gaza. If an agreement is not reached within the deadline, the truce can be extended under agreed-upon terms. The plan includes mediation and guarantees from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, with direct oversight from President Trump, who will officially announce the agreement. The Israeli scene is suffering from a sharp internal division between a security faction that favors accepting the plan as a political solution that saves Israel's face, and a hard-line right-wing faction that rejects any truce before the complete elimination of the "military threat from Hamas." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, he fears that accepting the plan will lead to the collapse of his government under pressure from the extreme right, which threatens to withdraw. On the other hand, he faces increasing American pressure, in addition to internal demonstrations by the families of the hostages, who accuse his government of stalling and sacrificing their sons for narrow political calculations. Israel, in its strategic depth, fears that accepting the plan will be perceived as a political and military defeat against a beleaguered resistance movement, and that the scenario following the 2006 Lebanon War will be repeated, when Hezbollah emerged with increasing political and popular influence despite human and material losses. In contrast, Hamas, despite the severe blows it has suffered, retains a negotiating position based on its remaining Israeli hostages and its ability to withstand the war machine. Hamas expressed initial acceptance of the plan, but stipulated that it include a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the release of all Palestinian prisoners, and a rejection of any Israeli military or security presence inside the Strip. It also stipulated the need for Gaza's reconstruction under Arab and international supervision. These demands reflect the movement's desire to transform the results of the war into political gains that will enable it to maintain its role in the Palestinian arena, especially in light of talk of future arrangements that may include the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza or the formation of a new administration for the Strip with regional participation. In light of these facts, three main scenarios for the future of the Witkoff plan can be envisioned. The first scenario involves conditional mutual acceptance of the plan, whereby some of its provisions are modified to bring the positions closer together, and a gradual implementation phase begins under international supervision, with American and regional guarantees. This scenario is possible, but it requires internal consensus within Israel and effective pressure from Washington on the Netanyahu government. It also requires Hamas's tacit acceptance of the phased solution without compromising its basic conditions. The second scenario is that Israel refuses to implement the second phase of the plan after the release of some hostages, leading to the collapse of the agreement and the resumption of fighting. This scenario reflects the nature of the divisions within the Israeli government and could lead to a domestic political crisis and increased public pressure. However, it could also serve Netanyahu in gaining more time and avoiding the collapse of his coalition. The third, and most bleak, scenario is the complete failure of the plan, either due to the refusal of one party or the collapse of international understandings, leading to the continuation of the war and its transformation into a protracted war of attrition. In this scenario, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza would worsen, and Arab and international popular anger against Israel would expand. Other regional parties might also become more involved, threatening to escalate the situation on other fronts, such as southern Lebanon or the West Bank. In this scenario, the United States would find itself in an extremely difficult position before the world. The Witkoff Plan, despite its political ambition and humanitarian dimensions, collides with an extremely complex reality, rendering its chances of success limited without comprehensive agreements and painful concessions from both sides. This seems unlikely given each side's adherence to its own narrative and objectives. At the same time, however, the plan could constitute a preliminary framework upon which to build to reduce the intensity of the conflict and open a window for negotiations, should genuine international support and political will transcend narrow calculations be available. Between rejection and acceptance, Gaza's future remains suspended on a thin line between explosion and détente.
See - Sada Elbalad
26-05-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Trump Nears Gaza Ceasefire Announcement as Part of Hostage Deal
Ahmed Emam U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly close to announcing a ceasefire in Gaza within the coming days, as part of a broader agreement that includes the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, according to sources familiar with the matter. The potential breakthrough comes amid growing speculation that Trump, who has signaled interest in resolving the ongoing war in Gaza, is actively engaged in backchannel diplomacy to end the conflict. 'We want to see if we can stop the fighting,' Trump told reporters recently, adding, 'We've spoken to Israel and we're trying to bring this entire situation to an end as soon as possible.' Sources within Trump's circle indicate he has been pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the war, expressing frustration over its continuation. As part of these efforts, the Trump team has reportedly opened a communication channel with Hamas via Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah. According to diplomatic insiders, the United States is now spearheading a new initiative through special envoy Steve Witkoff, aiming to restart indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The proposed framework, known informally as the "Witkoff Plan," would involve a phased deal beginning with the release of a portion of the hostages, followed by a gradual end to the war and the release of all detainees held by Hamas. Efforts are underway to create favorable conditions for talks, with U.S. officials asking Israel to delay further ground escalation and to allow broader access for humanitarian aid into Gaza. Nevertheless, Israeli military operations in the strip continue daily, drawing criticism from international human rights organizations. The Biden administration, although largely silent on the Trump-led efforts, is said to support a diplomatic resolution and is closely monitoring developments. Sources told *Israel Hayom* that Washington is committed to the diplomatic track, believing that the mounting pressure on Hamas could create a rare political opening for compromise. Despite the diplomatic momentum, Hamas reportedly continues to reject Israel's conditions for ending the war. These include the release of all hostages—living and deceased—the disarmament of Hamas, the departure of its leadership from Gaza, and the complete removal of the movement from any future role in governing the enclave. As negotiations progress, observers note that Trump's re-engagement in Middle East diplomacy could mark a significant shift in the dynamics of the Gaza conflict, particularly as the U.S. enters a highly charged election season. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Will Steve Witkoff replace Mike Waltz as Donald Trump's new NSA?
Donald Trump's special envoy and friend, Steve Witkoff , is at the forefront to become the new National Security Adviser as Mike Watlz is going to exit as he's believed to have been fired by the president following the Signal leak scandal. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now No decision has been made but Wikoff's name is under serious consideration, CNN reported, citing sources. First high-profile firing of Trump's second term Mike Waltz is going to be Donald Trump's first high-profile firing during his second term. No suggestion of this huge firing was dropped yesterday as Waltz attended the Cabinet meeting and heaped praises on Trump. 'Mr President, the last four years the world experienced a lack of leadership under Biden, and then we've had 100 days of your leadership with respect and with strength,' Waltz said. Is Mike Waltz taking Pete Hegseth's fall? Defense secretary Pete Hegseth came under fire as he was the person who leaked the Yemen war plan on a Signal group where Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was added. But Mike Waltz took the responsibility of creating the Signal group and adding members. He said he did not know how Goldberg got added to the group, but it may have happened, as indicated by an internal investigation, that Mike Waltz saved Goldberg's number on his phone under some other name and that person was supposed to be added to the Signal group. Who is Steve Witkoff? An American real estate investor, lawyer, and diplomat, Steve Witkoff is Trump's long-time friend. Trump made him a special envoy to the Middle East. He played a key role in negotiating a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas in January 2025 and proposed the 'Witkoff Plan' for a 50-day ceasefire extension, which Hamas rejected. He has also been involved in US-Russia talks to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, meeting with Russian officials like Vladimir Putin and Sergey Lavrov, and in US-Iran nuclear negotiations. Steve Witkoff is facing questions about whether he has adequate expertise to be a special envoy as all the talks he is leading are in stalemate.
