This past week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was on an intense diplomatic tour to the Middle East to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. He met Qatari government officials who are acting as mediators between the U.S. and Hamas in hopes of brokering a temporary truce. While Blinken is pushing for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow aid into Gaza and enable civilians to evacuate from conflict zones, the negotiations are not going anywhere. Israel’s aggressive military campaign continues unabated, the civilian death toll continues to mount, while a permanent ceasefire to end the war remains elusive. 

On the ground, both sides remain entrenched in their positions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown little interest in agreeing to a ceasefire at this stage, insisting that Israel’s campaign against Hamas will persist until the militant group is “neutralised.” Netanyahu’s government views Hamas as an existential threat, particularly after the group’s devastating attacks on October 7. His administration believes that halting the campaign prematurely would only allow Hamas to regroup and pose further danger to Israeli civilians. Despite Blinken’s efforts, Israel’s leadership remains focused on achieving its military objectives before considering any potential pause in hostilities.

For its part, Hamas has expressed a willingness to entertain temporary pauses in fighting to facilitate humanitarian aid, particularly as conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. Gaza has been under relentless bombardment since the war began, and the humanitarian crisis has deepened, with civilians facing dire shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. However, any lasting ceasefire would require significant concessions from Israel, something Netanyahu has been unwilling to entertain thus far.

The current conflict traces back to October 7, when Hamas launched a large-scale surprise attack on southern Israel, killing hundreds and igniting the fiercest fighting between Israel and Hamas in years. Israel’s retaliatory strikes have devastated Gaza, with thousands of civilians killed and Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins. Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed, and the ongoing siege has compounded the crisis, with essential supplies running low and international calls for a ceasefire growing louder. The war continues to rage, with no clear resolution in sight, as both sides refuse to back down from their entrenched positions.

The brutal manner in which Israel has conducted this war prompted South Africa to seek a ruling from the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide. While the court did hand down a provisional ruling, which urged Israel to ensure the protection of civilians, a final ruling may be years away. Meanwhile, in a separate case before the International Criminal Court, Palestine has sought arrest warrants for top Israeli officials, including Netanyahu, on charges relating to war crimes and crimes against humanity, citing how humanitarian aid has been systemically blocked from Gaza. 

As Blinken’s diplomatic push continues, the prospects for a ceasefire remain uncertain, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza grows increasingly desperate.