Hamas, Islamic Jihad reject giving up power in return for permanent ceasefire, Egyptian sources say

[moniss]

76. So I read all 48 responses to the OP and not one

talked about the ridiculous idea that you could hold elections in a bombed out hellhole. So regardless of who rejected the Egyptian proposal or not the proposal on it's face was a joke. Even if Israel stopped the destruction in Gaza tomorrow you are looking at decades in order to rebuild the place to some kind of controllable situation where you could have political campaigns in a relatively peaceful fashion and administer an election that could have any shot at integrity and being conducted peacefully without violent intimidation.

Egypt may just be trying to fling anything against the wall just to keep up the idea that the sides are talking. This "proposal" is worth about as much as a UN resolution at this point. An actual serious proposal, for example, would be for Hamas to say "OK we are going to release 10 hostages even without an agreement and we will see if Israel responds positively." Now if Israel gives no positive response then it would be clear that, as many have said, even if all the hostages were suddenly released Israel is not going to alter their conduct.

That positive response from Israel could be something like making a major effort to immediately and drastically increase allowing in pain medications for the wounded and anesthesia for conducting surgeries. Not just a couple more aid trucks per day but actually a major effort to allow the world to get the people that have been "kettled" to the South of the territory some food and water and sanitation facilities.

As it currently sits none of the parties in the conflict are willing to make any concessions to the other and don't trust each other. So a bold move like a small concession with no preconditions could be met either with more bombs or perhaps a few less bombs and maybe something positive like seeing to an increased effort to help the wounded and starving. Maybe then in response to Hamas having made their gesture without precondition Israel could say to Hamas "We are going to release 20 prisoners even without an agreement and we will see if Hamas responds positively." Now if Hamas gives no positive response then it would be clear that, as many have said, Hamas will only keep the conflict going.

Who goes first could be either one but at this point would it hurt to try it? Really? It sure isn't working doing it the way it is now. Yes I know now will come all the responses to me about how one side or the other is this or that. Has all of that worked for either side? Really?