Gaza ceasefire in limbo amid total aid blockade, mixed signals from Trump

Gene Hackman, wife Betsy died of natural causes a week apart, officials say.

Gaza ceasefire in limbo amid total aid blockade, mixed signals from Trump.

Gene Hackman, wife Betsy died of natural causes a week apart, officials say

Officials in Santa Fe, NM, appear to have resolved the very sad mystery surrounding the fate of actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, 65. The couple were found deceased last week in their ranch-style home in a gated community. One of their three dogs was also found deceased while the two other dogs were found to be alive on the property.

Officials now believe that Arakawa died of hantavirus, a pulmonary disease contracted from rodent droppings, and that she died about a week before Hackman. Arakawa’s last known communication was an email sent on February 11, while the last activity shown on Hackman’s pacemaker was on the 18th. Authorities believe that Hackman died of heart disease and that he may have been unaware of his wife’s death due to his advanced Alzheimer’s disease. It appears that he made no attempt to contact anyone.

The dog, Xena, was found crated in a closet adjacent to the bathroom where Arakawa was found and most likely died of starvation. Officials say that dogs do not contract hantavirus.

Police initially declared the couple’s deaths to be sufficiently suspicious to warrant an investigation. However, it does not appear any third party was involved. It is simply a sad end to the long life of one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, and that of his devoted wife of over 30 years.

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The first phase of a ceasefire signed between Israel and Hamas in January expired on Saturday, March 1. Since Sunday, Israel has enacted a total blockade of all aid entering the Strip, including food and water. Since Israel systematically destroyed nearly all of Gaza’s food production and water supplies, a prolonged blockade would mean a death sentence for Gaza’s still vulnerable population. Amnesty International has declared the blockade a crime against humanity.

Israel has not imposed this blockade because Hamas has violated the terms of the ceasefire. On the contrary, Hamas has scrupulously upheld the ceasefire, despite repeated Israeli violations throughout its 6-week duration. Israel has imposed this illegal blockade, apparently what the blessing of the Trump administration, because they wish to back out of the agreement that they signed in January.

Israel has refused to negotiate entry into the second phase of the ceasefire, which requires them to remove all remaining troops from the Gaza Strip. The US and Israel have pressured Hamas to continue releasing hostages in order to maintain the ceasefire.

Hamas has refused, saying that they have released all the hostages that were required under the first phase of the ceasefire. They have, however, offered to release all the hostages in one go in exchange for the second phase being implemented, along with a permanent cessation of hostilities. Israel has refused.

Tough talk

Yesterday, President Trump posted a message on Truth Social to the People of Gaza, warning that unless the hostages are released “you are DEAD”. He also said he had sent Israel “everything it needs to finish the job”. Presumably this refers to weapons Israel could use to continue its military onslaught in the Gaza Strip, which many human rights observers say amounts to ethnic cleansing or genocide.

Additionally, Egypt presented a detailed plan on Tuesday outlining reconstruction of Gaza over 5 years, without displacing its Palestinian population. This was a counter to Trump’s widely condemned Gaza Riviera plan, in which the US would take over Gaza and expel its population. The plan also calls for a non-partisan Palestinian council to take over Gaza until Gaza can be politically reunified with the West Bank. The Arab League has endorsed the plan unanimously. Hamas has also endorsed the plan and has expressed willingness end its government in Gaza. Despite having called for alternate proposals to Trump’s Gaza plan from the Arab nations, the Trump administration immediately dismissed Egypt’s plan, as did Israel.

US in talks with Hamas

However, on Wednesday, it came to light that the Trump administration has been communicating directly with Hamas, apparently over the objection of the Israelis. This is the first time the US government has ever acknowledged engaging directly with Hamas, which was designated a terror organization in 1997.

The US says that these talks, led by hostage affairs envoy Adam Boehler, were aimed at releasing more hostages. However, initial reporting indicated that they were broader in scope. Anonymous (likely Israeli) officials told Axios that the US was apparently discussing a broader deal to end the war.

US officials told news outlets they believed the Israelis leaked the news about the talks in an effort to undermine them. Nevertheless, it appears the talks may be continuing.

What this means for the future of Gaza and the ceasefire is not clear. Some may see the fact that Israel has not yet returned to a full-scale military assault as a hopeful sign. However, there is currently no assurance that they will not do so, perhaps in the very near future.

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