Become a Member
Analysis

Are Israel and Hamas about to reach a deal?

The imminent arrival of President Trump has changed the dynamics

December 5, 2024 09:55
2178123715
Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip (Getty Images)
4 min read

This week has been full of difficult news from Gaza. Omer Neutra, one of the hostages, was found to have been killed on October 7 and his body taken to Gaza, while the IDF also retrieved the body Itai Svirsky, another hostage.

At the same time incoming US President Donald Trump has demanded the hostages be released: “If the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity.”

Trump’s vow to make Hamas pay if the hostages are not returned has put new wind in the sails of a possible deal in Gaza. This has also come in the wake of a ceasefire in Lebanon. Israel launched operation Northern Arrows on September 23, intensifying airstrikes and a ground operation against the Iranian-backed terrorist group. The two month campaign appeared successful. Hezbollah lost thousands of fighters. Israel carried out a large number of airstrikes on Hezbollah munitions and rocket launchers. Israel was able to show that the Hezbollah bogeyman that could supposedly rain down destruction on Israel was partly a paper tiger.

The war in Lebanon has distracted from the war in Gaza. Hamas has counted on Israel getting fatigued by more than a year of fighting. While the early months of the campaign against Hamas after October 7 were intense and many Hamas members were eliminated, things slowed down in the spring of 2024. Since then Israel has not sought to completely defeat Hamas and remove it from Gaza. Instead the IDF has continued campaigns in certain neighbourhoods of Gaza.

Topics:

Gaza

Hamas