Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has been under pressure to end the war against Hamas in Gaza, with his indecisiveness being portrayed as a political tactic. President Biden’s announcement of a proposed truce has forced Netanyahu to make a choice between maintaining his hard-line government or bringing home hostages held by Hamas while moving away from international isolation. Critics believe that Netanyahu is being held hostage by far-right members of his coalition who oppose any concession to Hamas.
Biden outlined the proposal that Israel presented to American, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators, which involved a deal to pause the fighting and free hostages. Netanyahu’s government approved a cease-fire proposal, but he faces opposition from hard-line members of Likud party who want to continue fighting until Hamas is fully destroyed. Former military chiefs in the emergency government have threatened to withdraw their support if Netanyahu does not provide a clear path forward, and opposition parties are organizing to topple the government.
The proposed cease-fire involves three phases, including the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a temporary cease-fire leading to a permanent cessation of hostilities, and an effort to rebuild Gaza. Netanyahu’s office issued statements that did not clearly endorse the proposal but left his options open. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reaffirmed that Israel will not accept Hamas’s rule and plans to isolate areas in Gaza to enable an alternative government to form.
Critics accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war to stave off an election and avoid public backlash for intelligence and policy failures leading up to the conflict. Netanyahu’s relationship with Biden has been strained, and while Congressional leaders invited him to address Congress, they did not set a date amid political divisions in the U.S. over Israel’s actions in Gaza. Biden sees the truce deal as a way to not only stop the violence but also as a step towards greater regional integration for Israel.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog expressed support for a deal that would bring the hostages home, despite his ceremonial role. Some Israeli analysts doubt that Netanyahu would be willing to abandon his hard-right coalition partners for the truce proposal. Hamas responded positively to Biden’s speech and expressed readiness to engage constructively with a proposal based on a permanent cease-fire. However, some analysts believe that Netanyahu may continue with survival politics until after the U.S. presidential election before making any significant changes.
