After Hezbollah, will Israel agree to a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza?
In West Asia and across the world, people heaved a sigh of relief when US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (November 27) announced that Israel accepted a ceasefire in Lebanon for a period of 60 days, effectively putting an end to the fighting with Hezbollah.
But it seems that their wait may not be too long; that’s because US President Joe Biden said that the US will make another push for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Moreover, Hamas has also shown signs that it is ready for a truce in Gaza. “We have informed mediators in Egypt, Qatar and Turkey that Hamas is ready for a ceasefire agreement and a serious deal to exchange prisoners,” a senior Hamas official told the AFP news agency, at the same time accusing Israel of obstructing an agreement.
The question then is — can a truce be negotiated? Will peace return to the area? We analyse the situation.
In Gaza, the news of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon brought hope to some whereas for many others it gave them a sense of abandonment. Some speaking to Al Jazeera said that while they were pleased for their “brothers in Lebanon for reaching a truce”, they were waiting for their own ceasefire.