Opinion The biggest obstacle to a ceasefire in Gaza is Netanyahu himself

After 21 months of conflict, yet another ceasefire in Gaza appears imminent. Over the weekend, talks were underway in Qatar between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, though there was no breakthrough at the end of the first round. The optimism around a successful deal, however, stems from PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing trip to the US, and because President Donald Trump has been pushing for an end to Israel’s bombing campaign. If a new ceasefire is agreed upon, it will be the third one so far. The first , in November 2023, lasted for a week. The second was discarded by Israel before negotiations moved to the next phase.

The urgency cannot be overstated. Israel’s military response to Hamas’s 2023 terror attack has, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, killed more than 57,000 Palestinians and displaced almost the entire 2 million-strong population. A UN body has said that more than 600 have been killed near aid sites run by a US-Israel-backed group. The UN’s humanitarian chief has said people in Gaza are being subjected to forced starvation. Amid this continuing catastrophe, that Netanyahu nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize Monday would look less like a cruel joke if it could nudge Israel towards a cessation of hostilities first.

Advertisement

In Israel, there is growing opposition to the war. Ending the war now and getting the hostages back could even allow Netanyahu to sell Gaza and Iran as his victories. International opinion has turned as well. Israel’s allies are either suspending or reviewing existing agreements with it. Ultimately, the biggest obstacle to a ceasefire remains Netanyahu himself. The war arguably keeps him in power. His government has been propped up by right-wing hawks and his corruption trial continues to be delayed on security grounds. Netanyahu’s stated goal of wiping out Hamas from Gaza is at odds with the aim of the militant group’s leaders, who seek to retain some presence in the strip, even if it’s a significantly weakened one. The one person, however, who can coerce the Israeli PM into a definitive ceasefire is Donald Trump. The US President should ensure the peace before coveting the prize for it.