Netanyahu's Partners in the Gaza Genocide
TEHRAN (Defapress) - Some believe that America, as a "mediator," seeks to end the war in Gaza. However, this assumption seems more like a joke. Because if it were not for the extensive and multifaceted American support, the Zionist regime would not have been able to continue its crimes in the war against Gaza. Thus, America is a partner in this regime’s crimes in Gaza and cannot play the role of a mediator.
America supported Israel in the hope that it could at least achieve its declared objectives in the Gaza war, and it was no surprise that the initial mediation efforts sought a limited ceasefire to allow Israel to release some of its prisoners and permit the entry of humanitarian aid. This was achieved, but as expected, Netanyahu refused to extend the ceasefire and resumed the war.
Accordingly, the inability to achieve any of Israel’s declared objectives militarily has encouraged America to seek other ways to accomplish them. In such circumstances, the importance of indirect negotiations with Hamas and the urgent need to utilize the efforts of Arab countries like Egypt and Qatar becomes evident.
But Netanyahu had other plans. He did not want the war to stop before achieving absolute victory, as his government would collapse otherwise. He also did not want to give Biden a gift that would help him win the elections, as he had bet on Trump’s victory.
In any case, through Witkoff’s efforts, an agreement was reached and came into effect on January 19, 2024, consisting of three phases, each lasting 42 days. Although this agreement did not guarantee a permanent ceasefire, it paved the way for one. The agreement did not resolve all disputed issues but obligated all parties to continue efforts to discuss remaining matters and overcome any obstacles in their way.
The agreement required mediators to ensure the continuation of indirect negotiations, the extension of the ceasefire, and the flow of humanitarian aid in accordance with the agreed protocol, even if these negotiations extended beyond the deadlines set in the agreement. However, subsequent events proved that Netanyahu had intended from the beginning to withdraw from the agreement after the first phase, once a large number of prisoners were released, and that is exactly what happened.
Of course, it is not unlikely that Netanyahu had already agreed on these arrangements with Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, especially since Witkoff provided the necessary political cover for Netanyahu to carry out this shameful violation. Notably, Netanyahu not only resumed the war but also expanded its scope, reoccupying areas from which he had withdrawn in the first phase and even seizing new territories.
In reality, Trump not only allowed Netanyahu to violate the agreement that his administration had helped broker and implement but also decided to give him more time to achieve the field gains he had previously failed to secure. And when Netanyahu failed to achieve his desired field gains, Trump, especially as his trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE approached, once again considered reactivating the negotiation channel.
Trump even took a bold step by opening a secret channel for direct negotiations with Hamas, paving the way for the unconditional release of Aiden Alexander, a dual American-Israeli citizen. Signs emerged confirming that the imminent achievement of a new long-term ceasefire, which could turn into a permanent one, was near. It even reached the point where a senior Hamas official issued a formal statement confirming that an agreement had been reached with Witkoff on a relatively long ceasefire, during which several prisoners would be released, and negotiations leading to a permanent ceasefire, Israel’s complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, and the start of reconstruction would be included.
When Netanyahu publicly expressed doubts about the formula Hamas was said to have agreed to, Witkoff was forced to backtrack and revert to the old formula, which ensured that Israel would release about half of the prisoners detained in the first week of the ceasefire, without the U.S. committing to a permanent ceasefire, Israel’s withdrawal to pre-October 7, 2023 borders, or the unconditional flow of aid.
But what shapes the future is not mediators who are partners in crime, but rather the resilience of the Palestinian people, the narrative of resistance, and the revival of Arab and international support. The Zionist regime’s project of perpetual war is not an inevitable fate but a plan that can be neutralized through bold political and field choices.
Palestinian resistance is today the only actor that has changed the equation of war and imposed its narrative on public opinion. Now is the time for global silence to be broken and for the genocide project to be stopped through public pressure and genuine international support.
