White House Denies Reports Gaza Cease-fire Talks on Verge of Collapse

Facts

• National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby denied reports on Friday that Gaza cease-fire negotiations were on the verge of collapse, saying that progress was made in Cairo on Thursday. Kirby did not, however, indicate that a deal was imminent.^[1]
• The most recent round of talks reportedly focused on the Gaza-Egypt border — often referred to as the Philadelphi Corridor. Egypt and Hamas want Israel to withdraw from the corridor, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has argued that Israeli forces must remain there to prevent the flow of weapons.^[2]
• Meanwhile, fighting has forced thousands to flee central and southern Gaza after Israeli forces pushed deeper into Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. Displaced Palestinians have moved to al-Mawasi, which Israel designated as a safe zone, but the area has also been targeted in Israeli strikes.^[3]
• The humanitarian situation in Gaza has also continued to deteriorate. The enclave's health ministry has reported more than 1.7M cases of infectious diseases. Traces of polio have also been found in the strip.^[4]
• Overcrowded living conditions, in addition to the destruction of hospitals and water infrastructure, have driven the spread of disease. The UN said that Israeli operations and evacuation orders have displaced over 90% of Gaza's 2.1M population.^[5]
• In Israel, the war has negatively impacted the economy, with Fitch Ratings downgrading Israel’s credit score from A+ to A last week. Consumption, trade, investment, and growth have all slowed down as well.^[6]

Sources: ^[1]Timesofisrael, ^[2]Reuters, ^[3]New York Times, ^[4]CNN, ^[5]Associated Press and ^[6]Al Jazeera.

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. Though Israel will do what it must to free those taken hostage in Gaza, it cannot rush into a deal that creates a lifeline for Hamas. Israel faces an entire network of Iranian-back terror and must act wisely to gain as much as it can in negotiations with Hamas while avoiding a full-scale regional escalation.
• Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. Israel's aggressive posture only demonstrates that it is a rogue state that would rather light the region on fire than stop its genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Netanyahu continues to engage in provocative acts because he has failed to achieve his political and military objectives. While Netanyahu extends the war to ensure his political survival, the US continues to support Israel with a blank check and obfuscate its role in the carnage.