During early June, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the center of whispered gatherings, manipulated documents, and overlooked critical information, tracing back to the political maneuvers of October 7. Six months deep into the intense conflict in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu was devising a plan of cessation. The Israeli leader had initiated discussions for a lengthy truce with Hamas, signalling readiness for a mutual compromise.
In his effort to conclude the prolonged warfare, Netanyahu had sent a representative to share Israel’s updated standpoint to the Egyptian mediators. It was imperative for him to obtain the approval of his cabinet during a congregating at the Ministry of Defense based in Tel Aviv. The strategic nuances of the plan were deliberately kept off the meeting’s agenda, to be disclosed without premeditation.
The intention behind this abrupt revelation was to outmaneuver any dissenting ministers and hinder a consolidated push back. During April 2024, a timeline where Netanyahu’s political revival had not yet taken shape, an outline was laid on the table that would press pause on the Gaza war for no less than six weeks.
This would carve out an opportunity for further negotiation with Hamas regarding a longstanding truce. The proposition indicated that over 30 hostages held captive by Hamas since the inception of the conflict would be released in a matter of weeks. Should the truce hold and be extended, more prisoners would walk free.
Simultaneously, it would act as an immediate alleviation to the citizens of Gaza, who were victims of daily onslaughts, as over two million people would no longer have to battle to survive. An assured cessation of the conflict would possibly open doors for a significant peace agreement with Saudi Arabia – a heavyweight in the Arab world.
The Saudi administration had been clandestinely indicating its preparedness to expedite peace negotiations with Israel, contingent on the cessation of the Gaza war. The establishment of diplomatic relations between the governments of Saudi Arabia and Israel, an accomplishment not yet achieved by any Israeli leader post-1948, would fortify Israel’s standing in the region and ensure Netanyahu’s illustrious legacy.
However, such a peaceful conclusion to the hostilities was laden with personal jeopardy for Netanyahu. As the Prime Minister, he spearheaded a shaky alliance that relied heavily on the support of extreme right-wing ministers, whose goal was not to withdraw, but to seize Gaza.
These ministers were advocating for a drawn-out war, hoping that it would eventually provide Israel with the opportunity to reinstate Jewish settlements within Gaza. An early truce could potentially precipitate the disintegration of the ruling coalition, a scenario which could pave the way to premature elections where, as per the latest polls, Netanyahu would be on the losing side.
Being ousted from his office would leave Netanyahu in a precarious position. Since 2020, he had been under trial for allegations of corruption, primarily favoring businessmen with strategic benefits in return for gifts and positive media portrayal, charges he vehemently denied.
Losing his power would mean forfeiting his capacity to dismiss the attorney general who was supervising his prosecution, something his government would later attempt unsuccessfully. As the cabinet was engaged in discussing other affairs during the meeting, an assistant entered the room, handing Netanyahu a document outlining Israel’s new negotiation stance.
A final review of the document was hastily done by the Prime Minister, going through each point with his pen. This path towards peace was fraught with peril, yet it seemed that Netanyahu was willing to navigate forward. As the cabinet engaged in discussion, Netanyahu secretly reviewed Israel’s new negotiation stance one final time.
The document’s unexpected arrival and discreet placement before Netanyahu carried the weight of the nation’s prospective peace. Carefully, the Prime Minister read through each point, ticking them off with his pen.
The possibility of a ceasefire was a precarious road teeming with risks and opposition. Regardless, Netanyahu appeared prepared to tackle the challenge head-on, aiming to change the volatile course of the conflict towards peace.
Thus, amid political forecasts and unseen threats, the path to ceasefire stood open. Straddling between potential catastrophe and the prospects of peace, Netanyahu seemed determined to press forward.