Kamala Harris' speech was a shift in tone and perhaps a slight shift in language, but not much more than that. However, next week may still be crucial.
vice president I talked about the situation in Gaza As a “devastating…humanitarian catastrophe” it had some specific messages about it Israel – “Aid flows must be increased and basic services restored – no excuses.”
She echoed some of what President Joe Biden said on Friday when he called for “more ways to get more and more people the help they need. No excuses.”
There was a shift in tone, but beyond that, her speech did not represent a change in administration policy.
Yes, the Vice President was calling for a ceasefire, but she was addressing Hamas, not Israel.
She added: “Hamas claims that it wants a ceasefire.” “Well, there is an agreement on the table. As we said, Hamas needs to agree to this agreement.”
The framework of the agreement to allow for a six-week ceasefire was drawn up a few weeks ago. Despite talks in Doha, Paris and Cairo, the two sides failed to find common ground that would allow them to conclude the deal.
As we understand, Israel did not send a delegation to the final round of talks this weekend in Cairo because Hamas has not yet responded to specific questions about the number of hostages still alive and about the number of hostages it wishes to release. To exchange Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
In this context, it is believed that there are 134 hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza. The exact number still alive is unclear, and Hamas said last week that seven were killed during an Israeli airstrike.
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Israel holds about 9,000 Palestinian prisoners, according to NGOs, including 2,070 convicted of crimes (most in military courts), 2,656 remand prisoners, as well as 3,558 “administrative detainees” held without charge or trial on the grounds that they plan to break the siege. . Law in the future.
There are currently more Palestinians being held in administrative detention than at any time in decades.
Hamas had demanded the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons in exchange for the release of hostages. This was the main sticking point in the ceasefire negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the matter was “delusional” and Biden described it as “exaggerated.” The swap ratio is key and has not been resolved.
Thus, despite Harris' words on Sunday evening, there is no clear shift yet in the talks. With a framework in place, agreement can happen quickly or it can remain deadlocked.
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American airdrops reflect a fundamental failure
Biden The ice cream shop hopes to reach an agreement by the beginning of this week Seems like wishful thinking. The beginning of Ramadan at the end of next week is a goal for the negotiators.
Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians are always high in Jerusalem during Ramadan. Beyond providing relief to Gazans and families of Israeli hostages, a ceasefire by Ramadan would help ease tensions in Jerusalem.
Two things have changed that would have helped shape Harris' language. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is escalating. The White House cannot ignore this. Now domestic American politics are beginning to sink in.
Biden's campaign team was no doubt upset by the results of the Democratic primary in Michigan, where 100,000 people voted “disengaged” in a coordinated protest over his handling of the Gaza crisis.
Protest organizers in Michigan, in a key swing state with a large Muslim population, were hoping to get 10,000 “non-conformist” votes. They managed to 10 times that number.
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A senior minister in Israel's war cabinet and pre-war opposition leader Benny Gantz arrived last night in Washington for talks over the next few days.
He will meet with Vice President and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Progress on the ceasefire will be the focus, but perhaps succession talks as well.
With growing concern – inside and outside Israel – about Prime Minister Netanyahu’s suitability, Gantz is the obvious successor and leads in the polls.
Next week will be crucial.
