7 July 2025 | 12:00 CAT
3-minute read

Mawlānā Ebrahim Moosa has painted a picture of fragile hope and deep mistrust as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump. The negotiations focus on a proposed 60‑day Gaza ceasefire – a critical pause in the 21‑month war – yet leave many Gaza residents wondering if relief will truly arrive.

President Trump has positioned himself as a ‘peacemaker’. The framework includes a temporary halt in fighting, the release of Israeli hostages, and an expanded flow of humanitarian aid via the UN and Palestinian Red Crescent. On July 4, Hamas confirmed it gave a “positive response” and stands ready to engage on implementation strategies.

The conditions that Hamas is insisting on are:

1. A full ceasefire with lasting guarantees, not a temporary lull.
2. Israeli troop withdrawals to the frontiers before any settlement.
3. UN‑controlled aid deliveries, rejecting the current Gaza Humanitarian Fund.

Netanyahu, on the other hand, demands Hamas disarm and even go into exile — conditions Hamas will not accept.

Mawlānā Moosa highlighted the urgent need for a reprieve for Gazans from relentless bombardment and humanitarian collapse.

He highlighted Hamas’s key demands: “They want Israeli troops to withdraw to a certain level during the ceasefire period … aid distribution … go back to the United Nations and the Red Crescent … they’re still calling for full ceasefire.” These elements, Mawlānā Moosa stresses, are non-negotiable bridges to genuine respite for Gaza’s population.

Still, he cautions that a leaked “secret side letter” from the US may allow Israel to re‑engage militarily after 60 days — effectively nullifying the ceasefire.

Backed by recent joint US–Israel strikes on Iran — touted as a triumph that energiSed Israeli public morale — Netanyahu still faces domestic pressure. Far-right coalition partners oppose any truce, while the bereaved families of hostages and war-weary Israeli voters increasingly demand an end.

Mawlānā Moosa referenced analyst Yad al‑Baghdadi to differentiate public and political motives in Israel, “Israeli society would be willing to accept a ceasefire … while Netanyahu just wants to prolong it as far as possible.”

The prime minister’s strategy? Head to Washington seeking victories on four fronts:

• Symbolic success in Gaza via a ceasefire.
• Regional normalisation — potentially with Saudi Arabia or Syria.
• Securing US backing for future action against Iran.
• Boosting his leadership stature ahead of looming elections.

Yet, Mawlānā Moosa observed, none of these avenues guarantee a dramatic win.

Mawlānā Moosa emphasised Hamas’s remaining wariness: they question whether the US letter gives Israel “written approval … to restart the war at any time” — with or without US consent. Meanwhile, threats against Hamas leaders in Qatar and Lebanon could derail progress, as Israel publicly circulates hit lists targeting figures like Khalil al‑Hayya and Ezzedine al‑Haddad.

As Netanyahu steps onto Air Force One, he expressed confidence, “We are working to achieve this deal … under the conditions that we have agreed to,” adding, “I think the conversation with President Trump can definitely help advance this (deal), which we are all hoping for”. Trump, for his part, declared he was “very optimistic” despite acknowledging the situation “changes from day to day”.

On-the-ground conditions in Gaza are dire: over 57 000 Palestinian civilians have reportedly been killed, with aid distribution collapsing amid continuing Israeli airstrikes. With Rafah crossing blockades, displaced families in overcrowded shelters, and relentless bombardment of urban centres, any ceasefire delay compounds human suffering.

Mawlānā Moosa believes both sides are fragile: Hamas hopes the deal can alleviate civilian agony, even if temporarily, while Israeli society may accept a ceasefire but still embraces the “continuation of the genocide”.

Analysts suggest that no grand victory looks imminent from a Washington visit. The complexity of interests, secret clauses, and military posturing means this may be a ceasefire with exit clauses — not an end.

Still, even a fragile pause can offer Gaza its first real breath in months — a fragile, precious moment of respite for a community desperate for any relief. Whether it holds, and whether it delivers care instead of caveats, is what Gaza, Israel, and the world will wake to next week.

Listen to the Palestine Report on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.