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These times present a very unique situation: the pioneering US procession of the caretakers. Their qualifications differ in their expertise and attributes, but they all share the common mission – to avert an Israeli violation, or even devastation, of Gaza’s fragile ceasefire. After the hostilities finished, there have been scant occasions without at least one of the former president's representatives on the scene. Only this past week featured the arrival of a senior advisor, Steve Witkoff, a senator and a political figure – all appearing to perform their duties.

The Israeli government keeps them busy. In only a few days it launched a series of strikes in Gaza after the loss of a pair of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers – leading, based on accounts, in scores of local injuries. Multiple officials demanded a restart of the conflict, and the Israeli parliament enacted a preliminary decision to incorporate the West Bank. The US reaction was somewhere ranging from “no” and “hell no.”

But in more than one sense, the American government appears more focused on maintaining the current, uneasy stage of the truce than on advancing to the next: the reconstruction of Gaza. Concerning this, it appears the US may have goals but no specific proposals.

For now, it remains unclear at what point the planned multinational administrative entity will truly take power, and the same goes for the proposed security force – or even the makeup of its personnel. On Tuesday, a US official declared the US would not dictate the structure of the foreign contingent on the Israeli government. But if Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration persists to dismiss various proposals – as it acted with the Ankara's proposal this week – what happens then? There is also the reverse question: who will decide whether the forces favoured by Israel are even interested in the assignment?

The issue of the duration it will require to disarm the militant group is equally ambiguous. “Our hope in the government is that the global peacekeeping unit is will now take the lead in demilitarizing the organization,” stated Vance recently. “That’s going to take a period.” The former president only highlighted the uncertainty, stating in an discussion recently that there is no “rigid” timeline for the group to demilitarize. So, theoretically, the unnamed elements of this yet-to-be-formed international contingent could deploy to the territory while Hamas fighters continue to remain in control. Would they be dealing with a governing body or a insurgent group? These are just a few of the issues arising. Others might wonder what the outcome will be for average Palestinians as things stand, with Hamas continuing to attack its own adversaries and opposition.

Current developments have yet again underscored the blind spots of local media coverage on both sides of the Gaza border. Each outlet attempts to scrutinize all conceivable aspect of the group's violations of the truce. And, usually, the reality that Hamas has been hindering the return of the bodies of slain Israeli hostages has taken over the headlines.

On the other hand, reporting of non-combatant deaths in the region stemming from Israeli attacks has received little focus – or none. Consider the Israeli response attacks in the wake of a recent southern Gaza event, in which two troops were fatally wounded. While local officials reported dozens of fatalities, Israeli television pundits complained about the “limited reaction,” which focused on just infrastructure.

This is nothing new. Over the recent weekend, the press agency accused Israeli forces of infringing the ceasefire with the group multiple occasions after the truce was implemented, causing the death of 38 Palestinians and injuring an additional 143. The claim was unimportant to most Israeli media outlets – it was merely ignored. That included accounts that eleven members of a local family were fatally shot by Israeli forces last Friday.

Gaza’s civil defence agency stated the family had been attempting to return to their residence in the a Gaza City district of the city when the transport they were in was targeted for reportedly passing the “demarcation line” that defines territories under Israeli army authority. That limit is invisible to the ordinary view and appears just on maps and in government documents – not always available to average individuals in the region.

Even that occurrence scarcely got a mention in Israeli news outlets. Channel 13 News referred to it in passing on its digital site, quoting an IDF official who explained that after a questionable transport was identified, soldiers fired cautionary rounds towards it, “but the car persisted to approach the soldiers in a fashion that caused an direct risk to them. The forces shot to remove the risk, in compliance with the truce.” Zero casualties were stated.

Amid such narrative, it is understandable many Israelis feel the group solely is to blame for violating the truce. That belief could lead to prompting demands for a tougher stance in Gaza.

At some point – possibly in the near future – it will no longer be sufficient for American representatives to play caretakers, telling the Israeli government what not to do. They will {have to|need