Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite his public agreement to the deal, is not actually planning to adhere to its terms.
As The Guardian commentator Simon Tisdall notes, he stated that the ceasefire is temporary and that he is prepared to resume hostilities if the conditions are not met. The issue is that Netanyahu has lost control over his far-right allies, who are insisting on continuing the fighting.
Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire are set to begin in a few weeks, but doubts about their success are already emerging. Meanwhile, the situation in the West Bank is escalating, with Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian villages, which could trigger a new outbreak of violence. Netanyahu, faced with the choice between peace and war, risks losing his political support if he opts for a peace process that may lead to early elections.
HAMAS, for its part, is not interested in a prolonged peace. The group's militants are already regaining strength after heavy losses, and the resumption of control over the Gaza Strip could become another source of instability. Despite numerous attempts to establish a temporary administration in Gaza, HAMAS continues to dominate the region, and the restoration of its military capability could pose a serious threat to Israel.
"If the leaders of Israel and HAMAS decide to resort to fighting again in the coming weeks and months, it is likely that no one will be able to stop them, despite the fact that most Israelis, Palestinians, and the watching world are yearning for peace," Tisdall writes.
Source: theguardian.