BICOM

The Israeli Security Cabinet concluded yesterday that a ceasefire with Hamas is possible, but a broad agreement unlikely.

The four hour meeting included a detailed briefing from the IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and a communique was issued stating that the “the IDF is prepared for any scenario”.

Government sources briefed the Israeli media that the Security Cabinet concluded there is very little likelihood of reaching a broad agreement with Hamas. A short term ceasefire is still possible and there is a potential opening for a deal in which Hamas would agree to cease launching incendiary balloons and kites into Israel and Israel would agree to reopen the Kerem Shalom crossing, resume issuing permits to enter Israel and extend the Gaza fishing zone.

Government sources concluded that: “No broad arrangement will be placed on the table without a resolution of the issue of the return of our civilians and the bodies of the dead soldiers being held in Gaza.” Hamas has insisted that no deal will be done to return Israeli bodies and captives unless a large number of Hamas prisoners are released by Israel, something the Israeli Government is reluctant to do.

Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni told Army Radio yesterday: “Netanyahu, as always and as he did at the end of Operation Protective Edge, is holding indirect talks with Hamas. Such a situation between each round of fighting without any long-term strategy will just bring us back to the next round of fighting.”

Hamas sources claimed that the proposed agreement, presented last week by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov, would be for five years and would be implemented in stages. The first stage would see the cessation of Marches of Return and the incendiary balloons and kites. In exchange, the Kerem Shalom crossing will reopen and the Rafah crossing will be open on a regular basis.

The second stage would lead to improvements in the standard of living in Gaza and a complete lifting of the naval blockade. Meanwhile, Israel would begin to allow shipments into the Gaza Strip and increase the supply of Israeli electricity. In the third stage, the UN would implement the humanitarian projects such as the establishment of a seaport in Ismailia in Egypt, an airport serving the Gaza Strip that would operate from Egyptian territory, the construction of an electrical power plant in Sinai, and a comprehensive rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip.

Hamas reportedly gave a lukewarm response to the proposal stating: “The solution does not meet our expectations and there is a need for a naval passageway to the port of Cyprus without any Israeli supervision.”