'Disarming Hamas is a much smaller problem than people making it sound' Gershon Baskin interview

Key Concepts Ceasefire Deal, Hostage Negotiation, International Mechanism, Gaza Governance Committee, UN Security Council Resolution, Multi-lateral Multinational Force, Two-State Solution, Mistrust and Trauma, Collective National Suicide.

Challenges in Hostage Remains Retrieval

The current ceasefire deal faces significant challenges, particularly concerning the return of the remains of deceased Israeli hostages. Israel is awaiting the return of the bodies of hostages killed on October 7th or who died in captivity, but Hamas has only handed over some remains. The Red Cross has warned that retrieving and identifying these bodies, as well as repatriating Palestinian remains, will be a "difficult and lengthy process." Israel has released an unspecified number of Palestinian remains and is expected to release more.

Gershon Baskin, an Israeli peace activist and veteran hostage negotiator, elaborated on the difficulties:

• Objective Reasons: Many Hamas commanders responsible for burying hostages are no longer alive, having been killed by Israel. Additionally, thousands of Palestinians are buried under the rubble of bombed buildings in Gaza, and Israeli hostages could also be among them, making their location unknown.
• Mistrust and Accusations: There is deep mistrust between the parties. Israel accuses Hamas of acting in bad faith, leading to restrictions on humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza. Hamas, in turn, accuses Israel of breaching the agreement, citing recent killings in Gaza and the aid restrictions.
• International Mechanism: An international mechanism, involving Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, was designed within the deal's framework to facilitate the process. Egyptian intelligence presence has reportedly entered Gaza to work with Hamas on finding the bodies. Baskin emphasized the urgency for American and mediator involvement to ensure the deal continues and the war remains over.

Threats to the Budding Peace Process

Baskin considers the current situation "very, very serious" due to the profound lack of trust between Israel and Hamas. He stressed the need for American intervention, specifically mentioning Steve Whit, Jared Kushner, and even former President Trump, to weigh in.

He offered specific advice:

• He advised Hamas to publicly announce their full intention to meet the agreement's terms and return the remaining 24 deceased Israeli hostages.
• He urged Israel to provide mediators with any intelligence information they possess regarding the whereabouts of Israeli bodies in Gaza, highlighting the current lack of information flow despite its necessity. He recounted a conversation with Egyptian intelligence where they questioned why Israel wouldn't proactively share such vital information.

Future Governance of Gaza and Peace Framework

Despite the immediate challenges, there are ongoing efforts to establish a framework for Gaza's future governance and a broader peace process.

• Gaza Governance Committee: The Egyptian Foreign Minister recently announced that a 15-member Gaza committee will take over the governance of Gaza. The names for this committee have been vetted by Egypt with all Palestinian factions, including Hamas, as well as with Israel. The goal is for "Gaza to be ruled by Gazans for Gazans." A meeting is reportedly taking place in Ramallah between President Abbas and Nasal Kidwa (a former Palestinian foreign minister and Yasser Arafat's nephew from Gaza), who might be appointed to a task in the new government.
• International Mandate and Force: The United States plans to present a resolution to the UN Security Council next week to embody the agreement, providing a legal international mandate for a multi-lateral multinational force to enter Gaza. This force would comprise Arab, Muslim, and some European countries, serving as a crucial assurance against future Israeli attacks on Gaza and Hamas attacks on Israel.
• Rebuilding and Oversight: A meeting is planned in Cairo for countries to commit financial aid for Gaza's rebuilding. Furthermore, a "board of peace," envisioned by Trump as an oversight mechanism, is being formulated.

Hamas Disarmament and Public Sentiment

Baskin believes the issue of disarming Hamas is "a much smaller problem than people are making it sound." He stated that "there is no Hamas army anymore," though Hamas retains the ability to engage in insurgency and target Israeli soldiers if they remain in Gaza.

Crucially, Baskin highlighted the shift in public sentiment:

• The "overwhelming majority of Gazans are fed up of Hamas" and blame the group for the destruction inflicted upon them.
• Gazans hold Hamas responsible for the "decision that they made to commit collective national suicide on October 7th, 2023," and no longer wish to see anyone from Hamas.

Donald Trump's Role in the Peace Process

Baskin credits Donald Trump's unique approach for making progress where many US presidents have failed. He argued that "Binami Netanyao could not say no to Donald Trump."

• Initial Misconception: Trump initially believed, based on Israeli input, that Israel's military might could force Hamas to surrender. Baskin clarified that Hamas is not an organization that would surrender, preferring to "fight to the last Gazin."
• Turning Point: The change occurred after a failed Israeli assassination attempt on Hamas leadership in Doha, Qatar. Following an assessment of the fallout, Trump concluded that America's national security and financial interests, and possibly his personal interests, were tied to the Arab Gulf States.
• Trump's Intervention: He brought Netanyahu to Washington, "forced Natao to apologize to the Qatari prime minister," and then declared to Netanyahu, "the war is over and you will agree to it. we will get you all of your hostages, but the war is going to end." Trump then solidified this by posting it on his Truth Social platform, applying similar pressure to Hamas.

Long-Term Reconciliation and Two-State Solution

Baskin clarified that the current efforts are not an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement but rather "ending the chapter of this war in Gaza." The process of reconciliation will be considerably longer.

• Deep Trauma and Leadership: Both Israeli and Palestinian societies are deeply traumatized by the last two years. Current political leaders on both sides are deemed "incapable of leading us toward peace," necessitating new leadership through upcoming elections.
• The Inevitable Conclusion: Israelis and Palestinians must eventually realize, "we can't keep doing this. We've been killing each other for 100 years. It gets worse and worse each time." The last two years have been devastating for both peoples.
• The Only Solution: With 7 million Israeli Jews and 7 million Palestinian Arabs living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, the "only solution on the table that can work is a two-state solution."
• Interdependence of Security and Freedom: Baskin emphasized that Israel's ability to remain a democratic nation-state of the Jewish people depends on recognizing Palestinian freedom. Conversely, Palestinians will never have freedom without recognizing the need for Israeli security. "This is the deal here. It's security and it's freedom. Security for Israel and freedom for the Palestinians."

Conclusion

The current ceasefire is extremely fragile, facing immediate challenges related to hostage remains retrieval and deep-seated mistrust. However, parallel efforts are underway to establish a new governance structure for Gaza, secure an international mandate for a multinational force, and plan for rebuilding. While the immediate focus is on ending the current conflict, the long-term vision, championed by Gershon Baskin, points towards a two-state solution as the only viable path for lasting peace, contingent on new leadership and a mutual recognition of the intertwined needs for Israeli security and Palestinian freedom. The process is complex, requiring significant international mediation and a fundamental shift in perspective from both sides.