Hopes for Gaza Ceasefire Increase as Talks Intensify During Blinken’s Middle East Tour, Israeli Officials Face Possible ICC Arrest Warrants

Israel Offers Hamas 40-Day Ceasefire in Exchange for Hostage Release

In a surprising turn of events, Israel has reportedly offered Hamas a “generous” proposal of a 40-day sustained ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of captives held in the Palestinian enclave. The release of the hostages appears to require only Hamas’s approval, signaling a potential breakthrough in ceasefire negotiations.

Initially, Israel had demanded the release of at least 40 hostages, including women, elderly individuals, and those who were seriously ill. However, in a positive development, Israel has now reduced the number of hostages it wants Hamas to release in the first phase of a new truce to 33, as reported by the Washington Post. This shift in stance indicates a willingness to compromise and a possible ray of hope for the resumption of ceasefire negotiations as early as Tuesday.

Despite the progress in negotiations, concerns have been raised about the potential issuance of International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for Israeli officials. The U.S. and its allies fear that such actions could jeopardize the hostage-for-ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. There is growing anxiety among Israeli officials that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials could be targeted with arrest warrants by the ICC.

While the report does not specify which other countries have approached the court, it mentions that G7 nations have initiated a discreet diplomatic effort to communicate their concerns to the Hague-based court. As speculations mount about possible ICC arrest warrants against Israeli officials over their actions in the conflict with Hamas in Gaza, a White House spokesperson reiterated the U.S. stance that the ICC lacks jurisdiction in the matter.

In the midst of these developments, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has embarked on a Middle East tour, starting in Saudi Arabia, to discuss the future governance of Gaza post-conflict. Blinken’s itinerary includes stops in Israel and Jordan through Wednesday. At the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, Blinken highlighted the intensive efforts made by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia towards Israeli-Saudi normalization over the past month.

Blinken expressed hope that Hamas would accept Israel’s “extraordinarily generous” ceasefire offer, which would halt the Israeli offensive in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages. He emphasized the urgency of the decision facing Hamas, stating, “The only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas. They have to decide — and they have to decide quickly. I’m hopeful that they will make the right decision.”

The iShares MSCI Israel ETF (NYSE:EIS) surged 0.9% on Monday in response to the latest developments in the ceasefire negotiations. As the situation continues to evolve, all eyes are on Hamas’s response to Israel’s ceasefire offer and the potential implications of ICC arrest warrants for Israeli officials.