By Sanxuan

Israel, indeed, is untrustworthy.

A senior Egyptian official has revealed that the prospects for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza remain bleak, as Netanyahu has no intention of advancing the second phase of the ceasefire, and the first phase agreement has not been genuinely fulfilled.

Breaking promises

The official stated that the obstruction of the first phase ceasefire was mainly due to Hamas, citing that the number of deceased hostages handed over by Hamas did not match the agreement, which provided Israel with an excuse to violate the agreement.

Hamas explained that it was not that they did not want to hand over the bodies, but rather that they needed time. These hostages died in Israeli air strikes and blockades, many were buried under the ruins along with the Hamas members guarding them, and their exact locations are unknown. They can only excavate and identify each body one by one, and many areas are still under Israeli control.

Whenever Hamas attempts to enter Israeli-controlled areas to search for the bodies of the hostages, the Israelis will definitely open fire. Even ordinary civilians who get close to the Israeli positions will be shot dead.

In fact, since the ceasefire agreement took effect, the Israeli army has launched multiple attacks in Gaza, resulting in dozens of deaths. The reason given for opening fire is always that Palestinians approached Israeli positions, and the Israelis claim self-defense.

A ceasefire should mean withdrawal of troops

This has created a deadlock, with some of the hostages' bodies located in Israeli-occupied areas. If Hamas wants to go in and dig them out, they will be repelled by the Israelis. However, if they do not deliver the bodies as agreed, Israel will blame Hamas for violating the ceasefire agreement, affecting subsequent ceasefire negotiations.

To put it bluntly, Israel never intended to release Gaza. Even when the hostages were in Hamas's hands, they killed them, and now that the living ones have returned, Netanyahu has even less restraint.

An Egyptian official pointed out that Netanyahu is unwilling to reach the second phase of the ceasefire, mainly because it involves the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the disarming of Hamas.

This is actually the core issue of the entire Israel-Palestine conflict. Israel does not believe that Hamas would disarm itself and give up control of the Gaza Strip; they must personally eliminate Hamas to feel secure.

It's really hard to dig up corpses

Hamas also knows what Israel is planning, so they have been watching closely. If Israel does not fulfill the agreement seriously, they cannot lay down their arms and expose their backs to the enemy.

On the other hand, several right-wing ministers in Netanyahu's government do not support a permanent ceasefire. The current ceasefire is only due to domestic public opinion pressure, to exchange the hostages. After all, if the hostages die, the government would have a hard time explaining to the people.

American unconditional bias has also given Israel enough confidence. Trump recently threatened Hamas: if they violate the ceasefire agreement, as soon as he gives the order, the Israeli army will immediately return to Gaza.

But it is Israel that violated the agreement first, besides firing at Palestinians at will, Netanyahu also ordered to halve the humanitarian supplies entering Gaza, claiming that they cannot allow Hamas to receive supplies, especially fuel and energy.

Not a hypocrite, but a real scoundrel

Gaza residents also reported that although more supplies have been delivered than before the ceasefire, it is still a drop in the bucket, insufficient to meet the basic survival needs of millions of people. Apart from the reduced sound of gunfire, there is not much difference from before. People still cannot move freely, and their homes have been destroyed into ruins, forcing them to live in tents.

The fire has stopped, but it seems like it hasn't.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7563121727060902438/

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