(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . I/P Ceasefire Talks - Latest News & Commentary [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-05-06 I wish I had some good news to report, but unfortunately I can’t control events as much as I would like to. Here’s where I think things presently stand. Israel wants the hostages returned and will agree to a “temporary” ceasefire to allow the hostages to safely return and allow some humanitarian aid in, as well as releasing some Palestinian prisoners. HAMAS wants an end to the war and the IDF out of Gaza, and will release some number of hostages. So here’s the latest from NBC News: The Israeli military has told some 100,000 people to leave Rafah and move to what it said is an expanded humanitarian area in the Palestinian enclave. The evacuation of eastern Rafah, which Israel says is "limited" and "temporary," comes ahead of an expected ground assault on the southern Gaza city, where more than 1.4 million civilians are sheltering. Cease-fire talks appear to have stalled after hopes were raised for a last-ditch truce deal that would also secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel. But talks have not completely collapsed, two sources told NBC News, with CIA Director William Burns in the region and President Joe Biden set to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Not a happy picture I think you would agree. The NBC News article contains a lot more detail on the above bullet points and is worth reading in its entirety. I would also offer This past post by Allf513 about the U.S. reportedly withholding some military aid to Israel. I have not seen this reported elsewhere and neither the U.S. nor Israel has officially verified this, so make of it what you will. But if true, it may be a very much needed shot across Netanyahu’s bow by Biden. Commentary: I will try to be brief, but I would like to get a couple points across. Those being how essential a ceasefire is from both a humanitarian and a political perspective. First, and most importantly, a ceasefire is immediately necessary to save the lives of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, as well as the lives of the Israeli hostages. According to Cindy McCain ( head of the World Food Organization) famine is already gripping northern Gaza and is spreading south. Many children are homeless, parentless and are starving to death. Without an immediate ceasefire, the situation will only get worse each day, and if Israel does invade Rafa, we could approach genocide. Second, and arguably less important, a ceasefire is a domestic political necessity. I worry that Biden and some Democrats may be thinking that they are the logical choice for Progressive voters who want to save Palestinian lives because Trump and the Republicans would make matters worse by far. Not only allowing and supporting Netanyahu and company kill and drive out Palestinians by implementing their version of “river to the sea”, but Trump and company would likely encourage it. But while Biden and the Democrats are the logical choice, we humans are not completely logical beings like M. Spock. Sometimes we are emotional beings like Dr. Mc Coy (“Damn it, Jim”). If we’re seeing the same or worse situation in Gaza by Election Day and Biden has not done enough to rein in Netanyahu, I feel at least some of the normally reliable Progressive base will let their emotions override logic and say F**k It, and stay home or vote/write in some candidate who pledges to halt military aid to Israel. These voters can’t be taken for granted by Biden and the Democrats. So that’s the second reason. Biden must be willing to put words into deeds and pressure Netanyahu into accepting a ceasefire deal by starting to withhold offensive weapons so Netanyahu knows he is serious about preventing genocide. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/5/6/2239240/-I-P-Ceasefire-Talks-Latest-News-Commentary?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/