Israel: Protests, Strikes Simmer Over Cease-fire and Hostage Deal

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Facts

  • After the Israeli military recovered the bodies of six hostages over the weekend, hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Israel to demand a deal that ensures the release of the remaining hostages. The country's largest labor union also called for a general strike.[1]
  • The strike caused disruptions across the country on Monday, including at Israel's main international airport, but it was ignored in some areas. The strike was eventually called off in the afternoon following an order by Israel's Labor Court after it accepted a petition from the government.[2][3]
  • Protesters accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of not doing enough to secure a deal and obstructing negotiations for his own political purposes. Netanyahu has blamed Hamas for the lack of progress.[4]
  • US Pres. Joe Biden said on Monday that Netanyahu was not doing enough to secure a cease-fire after being asked by reporters. Biden blamed Hamas for the hostages' deaths, saying that 'Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes.'[3][5]
  • Axios reported that Biden is considering presenting Israel and Hamas a final cease-fire proposal later this week, according to two anonymous officials. The main point of contention in recent negotiations has been Israel's presence along the Egypt-Gaza border — often referred to as the Philadelphi Corridor.[6]
  • Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said that Netanyahu's demands are the reason for the deaths of hostages, pointing to Netanyahu's insistence that Israel maintains a presence along the Philadelphi Corridor and Netzarim Corridor, which bisects the strip from east to west.[7]

Sources: [1]CNN, [2]NPR Online News, [3]Associated Press, [4]USA Today, [5]BBC News, [6]Axios and [7]Timesofisrael.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by POLITICO. With the clock ticking, the US and its allies are confident that after some tough negotiating, a deal between Israel and Hamas can be reached. A guaranteed end to the war will ensure increased humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave, the release of Israeli hostages, and create a better 'day after' in Gaza without Hamas in power. The US will continue to work toward closing the gaps and ensuring that peace and stability can be restored to the region.
  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. The murder of the six hostages over the weekend should serve as a wake-up call to Israelis that Hamas cannot be negotiated with. Every Israeli wants to see the hostages released, but Hamas has used the negotiations to kick the can down the road to ensure its survival. The protests in Israel have failed to unite the nation and only serve the political interests of the opposition. This situation is one of the biggest security dilemmas Israel has ever faced.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. Everyone seems to understand — including most Israelis — that the main obstacle to ending this war is Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the US continues its charade of blaming Hamas for the lack of progress when the group has shown much flexibility in negotiations. The six hostages died over the weekend because Israel refuses to end its genocidal campaign in Gaza. The war could be over tomorrow, yet the US continues to back Netanyahu's intransigence.

Predictions