Israel Builds Bases in Central Gaza, a Sign It May Be There to Stay
New York TimesDec 01
Report: Hamas, Israel Exchange Names of Hostages, Prisoners for Gaza Cease-fire Deal
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Above: Thousands of Israelis gather at Jaffa Street and march towards the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence to demand cease-fire agreement and hostage swap deal on Dec. 7, 2024. Image copyright: Saeed Qaq/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
The New Arab reported on Monday that Hamas and Israel had exchanged the names of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be released in a cease-fire deal. Hamas handed a list of names to Egyptian mediators that included the sick, the elderly, and four US citizens.
Hamas also handed over a list of Palestinians it wanted to be released from Israeli detention. The report comes a day after Qatar said it sees "momentum" in Gaza cease-fire negotiations.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Now that quiet has been found on the Lebanese-Israeli border, the US will continue to work toward a cease-fire in Gaza that ensures the release of Israeli hostages and the end of Hamas' rule over the Palestinian enclave. The Biden admin. worked hard to cement this deal that allows displaced Israelis and Lebanese to return home.
Pro-Israel narrative
Now that Hezbollah has been decimated and the Syrian regime has collapsed, Israel should take seriously the prospects of making a deal for a cease-fire in Gaza that ensures the release of the hostages. Syria, of course, will most likely still pose a threat to Israel, but Iran's axis of resistance has effectively fallen apart. Indeed, Hamas has also signaled that it is more open to a deal as it continues to lose allies.
Pro-Palestine narrative
While there is, yet again, another flurry of reports that a cease-fire is near, the reality is that Israel is continuing its genocide in Gaza. In the north, the Israeli army has been in the process of ethnically cleansing Beit Lahiya. Moreover, the rest of the strip continues to face dire humanitarian conditions that have been purposefully created by Israel.
