"Sadly, but with a certain sense of inevitability, every day since then has shown the precarious nature of that ceasefire. The past weekend brought the biggest test to this brittle absence of war, rather than any real sense of peace. Allegation and counter-allegation of ceasefire breaches were swiftly exchanged as a deeply war-weary people in Gaza suffered profoundly yet again."
"By yesterday it seemed renewed US pressure had ensured the truce was not derailed and that Israel's crossings with Gaza could be reopened. But much continues to depend on the US mediators' contacts with Israel, and key Middle Eastern leaders' and Turkish contacts with Hamas. So many issues on the future of Gaza and Hamas remain unsettled and we must avoid confusing a peace settlement with a fragile ceasefire."
Ceasefire in Gaza remains precarious after a weekend that tested its fragility, with allegations of breaches and civilians suffering again. The Israel Defence Forces launched deadly strikes after two soldiers were killed in an attack blamed on Hamas, and an Israeli security official suspended aid deliveries. Renewed US pressure helped reopen crossings, but much depends on US mediators' contacts with Israel and regional and Turkish links to Hamas. Trump's special envoys returned as Hamas negotiators met Egyptian mediators in Cairo. The second phase of the 20-point plan proposes an international stabilisation force, IDF withdrawal and eventual disarmament of Hamas, though many obstacles remain.
Read at Irish Independent
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