Photo/Illutration Relatives of hostages held by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip and their supporters call for their immediate release and protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Aug. 17. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

It has been 10 months since the current Israel-Hamas war began. We demand that the belligerents and mediators alike do their utmost to bring about a truce as soon as possible.

Cease-fire negotiations are reaching the crucial stages. The United States and other mediator nations last week introduced an arbitration plan to bridge the respective demands of Israel and Hamas.

The mediators reportedly intend to renegotiate later this week in hopes of forging an agreement.

More than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza, where the destruction of infrastructure is forcing citizens to live in dire, unsanitary conditions. The situation also must have become near-intolerable for the Israelis who are being held hostage by Hamas, as well as for their waiting families.

To add to this crisis, the local health authorities recently announced the first confirmed case of polio, a highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis of the limbs.

According to the United Nations, this is the first confirmed case in Gaza in 25 years. An immediate cease-fire is also necessary to vaccinate children. 

The arbitration plan is said to be in line with U.S. President Joe Biden's proposal, made in May, for a phased hostage release and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The plan has been endorsed by the U.N. Security Council, and, as such, represents the collective will of the international community.

After many failed cease-fire negotiations, both Israel and Hamas must try to reach an agreement this time.

The resulting truce will be of extreme significance to preventing any further escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

Iran vowed to retaliate against Israel after the latter assassinated the political leader of Hamas in Tehran in late July.

This raises the possibility of armed clashes erupting between Israel and various Islamic militant groups, which could trigger a chain reaction of retaliatory attacks that may escalate into an all-out war.

The leaders of Europe and the United States are calling for restraint, and Iran is prepared to refrain from retaliating while cease-fire negotiations are in progress.

Assuming this means that the Iranians are prioritizing diplomacy over military engagement, we applaud their wise decision.

To help Iran maintain self-restraint, Israel must refrain from provocative military action. However, Israel seems set on continuing to use excessive force, as evidenced by its bombing of a school in Gaza that killed more than 100 people, including children.

Israel has only itself to blame for being accused of using the cease-fire negotiations to buy time for its ongoing military operations.

After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Israel has accepted the arbitration plan. If that is the case, Netanyahu must prove his sincerity by ceasing military operations in Gaza.

Hamas is said to be still skeptical of the arbitration plan. Egypt and Qatar, which are in contact with Hamas, must do their utmost to persuade the latter to accept the plan.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 21

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