Fighting continues along the so-called "yellow line" in the Gaza Strip - the area to which Israeli forces withdrew after a ceasefire came into effect last month. The border divides the enclave in two, and seven weeks after the ceasefire was announced, it looks increasingly fragile.
"This is not a ceasefire", Mohamed Hanouar, who lives among the ruins of his former home, told ARD. "We live close to the yellow line, about 500 meters away. There are explosions all the time - every day, almost every minute. "We are constantly being hit by debris."
The Israeli army says its positions are constantly under attack and terrorists are entering restricted areas, trying to emerge from tunnels or approach the border. "They haven't changed. Hamas is trying to maintain its power in Gaza and is walking freely on the streets," Israeli army spokesman Nadav Shoshani said.
Hamas does not want to disarm
This is probably the biggest obstacle to the implementation of the Gaza peace plan prepared by US President Donald Trump. Both sides have made it clear that there are points in the agreement that they do not accept, ARD writes. For example, Trump's 20-point plan requires Hamas to disarm and play no political role, as do other terrorist groups.
However, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem recently reiterated that the group has no intention of disappearing. "The issue of disarmament depends on us reaching an internal agreement and on there being a real political process that leads to an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," Qassem said. "This has nothing to do with the Israeli demands, which include disarmament and other things." From the perspective of the terrorist group, in this sense, there is no option for them to surrender and lay down their arms in order to reach the international stabilization military unit that will be deployed in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu is not ready for any concessions
The Israeli government, for its part, officially confirms that it agrees with Trump's plan. But in fact, it also resists parts of it. According to this plan, a clear path is being built in the future towards recognizing the state of Palestine.
On this issue, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems adamant that he will not make any concessions, ARD writes. "We continue to clearly deny the existence of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River. Nothing has changed in this position", Netanyahu insists. "I have opposed this for decades, despite pressure from outside and inside. So I don't need anyone to give me advice and lecture me on this issue”.
The Yellow Line - an Insurmountable Barrier
According to Trump's plan, the Israeli army should gradually withdraw from the Gaza Strip once all the hostages are returned. Israel should not occupy any territory from the enclave, the peace agreement also says. In fact, however, the Yellow Line is gradually becoming a border that is insurmountable.
This could lead to what we are seeing in the West Bank, where a temporary solution has become permanent, ARD notes. According to political scientist Udi Sommer of Tel Aviv University, this is Hamas's goal. If the temporary solution becomes permanent, it will be beneficial for Hamas because it means they can survive. "The fact that the situation remains like this means that other powers in the region are hesitant to intervene".
At the same time, Israel has no other choice because it has to protect its citizens and people, says Sommer. "Ultimately, this could mean that Trump's plan will not be implemented," the political scientist adds. The second phase of the peace agreement is already significantly delayed. The return of all hostages was also supposed to take only three days, but it has been going on for months.
Author: Ivo Maruszczuk (ARD)