Can Mediation and Negotiations Bring About a Ceasefire or Hostage Release in the Israel-Hamas War?

As the Israel-Hamas war reaches the one-month mark, calls for a ceasefire, or at least a humanitarian pause, are growing ever louder. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is steadily worsening and the civilian death toll continues to rise amid Israel’s punishing bombing campaign and widening ground assault, sparked by the brutal terrorist attacks of Oct. 7. Meanwhile, Hamas and other groups in Gaza are still holding roughly 240 hostages, mostly Israelis, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted there will be no humanitarian pause until they are released.

What are the prospects for mediation and negotiations in the midst of this escalating conflict, and who might be involved in such efforts? What are the elements necessary to get to a ceasefire? Or to humanitarian pauses? What are realistic measures to effectively protect Palestinian civilians?  What will it take to secure the release of the Israeli hostages, and is that even possible while fighting continues?

To answer these critical questions and more, MEI has assembled a panel of expert practitioners