The Israel-Hamas war is teetering on a precipice. On the one hand, there is the possibility of an extended ceasefire deal. On the other, an escalation of fighting through an Israeli ground invasion of the southern city of Rafah.
Both offer the promise of an end to the war, which has stretched into its fifth month and cost almost 30,000 lives, but through vastly different routes.
People inspect the damage to their homes following Israeli air strikes in Rafah.Credit: Getty
US President Joe Biden is pushing hard for a ceasefire. After standing firmly beside Israel after the October 7 attacks, Biden has lost patience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and wants him to change course.
Biden has reportedly disparaged Netanyahu as an “asshole” in private conversations recently, and last week criticised Israel’s military tactics as “over-the-top”.
The president on Tuesday hosted Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House for talks on how to end the war and develop a plan for the day after the conflict ends.
Biden is arguing for a six-week pause to the fighting that would see Hamas release the remaining Israeli hostages, allow more aid to enter Gaza and pave the way for a longer ceasefire. Israeli negotiators have previously expressed private support for such a deal, and top Israeli officials are set to travel to Cairo within days for talks with US, Qatari and Egyptian officials.
People inspect the damage to their homes following Israeli air strikes in Rafah.Credit: Getty
While gaps remain, Biden said key elements of the deal are in place and vowed that the “United States will do everything possible to make it happen”.
At the same time, Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead with the military offensive in Gaza until his nation achieves “total victory”. Israel, he has said in recent days, could win the war “in a matter of months”.
Israel’s war against Hamas is on a precipice. The world is holding its breath
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13.02.2024
The Israel-Hamas war is teetering on a precipice. On the one hand, there is the possibility of an extended ceasefire deal. On the other, an escalation of fighting through an Israeli ground invasion of the southern city of Rafah.
Both offer the promise of an end to the war, which has stretched into its fifth month and cost almost 30,000 lives, but through vastly different routes.
People inspect the damage to their homes following Israeli air strikes in Rafah.Credit:........
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