• The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah doesn't promise a swift resolution to the Gaza conflict.
• Israeli leaders maintain their stance on Hamas, with Avi Dichter stating that the Gaza campaign is far from over.
• The conflict has resulted in the death of 44,000 Palestinians, with negotiations between Israel and Hamas at a standstill.
• As the conflict continues, the U.S. plans to renew its push for a Gaza ceasefire, but the situation remains precarious with no immediate resolution in sight.

The world's attention has been drawn back to the war-torn Gaza Strip following a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah. However, the prospect of a swift resolution to the conflict seems unlikely. The ceasefire, which took effect before dawn on Wednesday, brought a halt to hostilities that had escalated sharply in recent months. This conflict had overshadowed Israel's parallel conflict in Gaza against Palestinian Hamas militants.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced the Lebanon accord, expressing his intention to renew efforts for a resolution in Gaza. However, Israeli leaders showed no signs of easing their stance on Hamas, the Islamist group that ignited the conflict last year by attacking southern Israel. Israeli ministers have made it clear that their war objectives for Gaza differ significantly from those for Lebanon.

Israel's Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a member of the inner security cabinet and a former head of the Shin Bet intelligence agency, stated, "Gaza will never be a threat to the state of Israel again...We will reach a decisive victory there. Lebanon is different." He further emphasized that the Gaza campaign was far from over, with much work still to be done.

Stalled Negotiations and Daily Attacks

The conflict in Gaza has been ongoing for over 14 months, resulting in the death of 44,000 Palestinians and the destruction of much of Gaza. Israeli forces continue to launch daily attacks across swathes of the coastal enclave, aiming to wipe out Hamas. The news of Hezbollah's decision to cease fighting was met with despair by many Gazans, who feel abandoned and forgotten.

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas have been at a standstill for a long time, with each side blaming the other for the impasse. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri accused Israel of being inflexible, stating that his group still wanted a deal. However, both Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of failing to negotiate in good faith.

In the midst of this, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has vowed to sanction nations that enforce arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, calling the International Criminal Court's issuance of an arrest warrant for the Prime Minister of Israel and the former Defense Minister outrageous.

International Reactions and Future Prospects

He also spoke on the broader challenges in Gaza, suggesting that Arab nations, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, were best positioned to lead Gaza's reconstruction and create a peaceful entity alongside Israel. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has urged that the ceasefire in Lebanon must ensure the end of displacement in the country, noting that many will have nowhere to return to. He emphasized the need for the wellbeing of children and their families to be prioritized in what will be a long journey to recovery.

As the conflict continues, the U.S. is set to renew its push for a Gaza ceasefire. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan stated that Biden would start a renewed push for a Gaza ceasefire by having his envoys engage with Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, and other actors in the region. However, the incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, who takes office in January, has stated he would work to end the war but has offered no plan on how he intends to do so.