Hopes for Ceasefire are Faint

International governments continue to push hopes for a ceasefire and hostage release deal as talks resume in Qatar today.

The main hope is that an agreement will stop Israel’s war against terrorist enemies from spiralling into an all-out regional war involving Iran. But BBC reporters acknowledge that expectations of a breakthrough are low.

The US administration has engaged in what some describe as an international diplomatic blitz, attempting to pressure Iran and its proxies into delaying retaliatory attacks on Israel and give the ceasefire negotiations a chance of success.

Part of the Americans’ thinking is that reaching a truce in the fighting in Gaza will alleviate tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. US special envoy Amos Hochstein met Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, members of parliament, and Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday, but they are thought to have little influence over Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah.

In pursuing this policy, US politicians are going against the advice of many military analysts who are concerned that a ceasefire will enable Hamas to retain its hold on the Gaza Strip and rebuild its forces. And the IDF Chief-of-Staff, Herzi Halevi, believes the military can pressure Hamas into surrendering the hostages.

Hamas says it is losing faith in the United States’ ability to mediate a ceasefire. It has declined to participate in the talks unless they focus on the proposal announced by Joe Biden earlier in the year. But they seem to be relying on their own interpretation of that proposal and insisting that a full withdrawal of Israeli troops is guaranteed.

The terrorist group is said to be angry with its Iranian backers because they are delaying any significant response to the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran two weeks ago.

More leaders of the international community should be concerned that too little pressure has been put on the terrorist organisations and their Iranian masters over the 10 months of fighting. It is really puzzling that so many Western politicians think they can negotiate successfully with terrorists without rewarding them for their brutal actions.

This update from ILTV: