Palestinians in Gaza were gearing up for the start of Ramadan as the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was set to begin. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has thrown a curveball by expressing a desire to revisit the terms of the agreement.
Netanyahu’s government is pushing for a renegotiation of the ceasefire terms, putting pressure on Hamas to extend the initial phase in return for releasing half of the remaining 59 captives. In response, Israel has once again halted aid and supplies to Gaza, causing tensions to escalate.
Hamas has accused Israel of backtracking on the existing deal and is calling on the international community to intervene. The situation has raised doubts about the future of the ceasefire and the prospects of salvaging it.
The conflict has drawn attention from various experts, including political analyst Xavier Abu Eid, former US ambassador Francis Ricciardone, and Middle East director Gershon Baskin, who have weighed in on the developments.
As the world watches closely, the question remains: Can the ceasefire be saved?Presenter: Rob MathesonGuests:Xavier Abu Eid – Political analyst, former adviser to the PLO and author of the book Rooted in PalestineFrancis Ricciardone – Former US ambassador to Egypt and Turkiye, and former president of the American University in CairoGershon Baskin – Middle East director of the NGO the International Communities Organization and a former peace and hostage negotiator