On August 10, 2025, a dramatic turn in the already fraught Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations sent ripples through international diplomacy. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly accused French President Emmanuel Macron of sabotaging the peace process by recognizing the State of Palestine, a move Rubio contended had “derailed” the fragile talks and signaled to Hamas that their actions might be rewarded. As the dust settles from these accusations, the prospects for peace in Gaza appear as uncertain as ever, with multiple international actors weighing in and the humanitarian crisis deepening by the day.
Rubio’s remarks, delivered in an interview with Eternal Word Television Network and reported by Caliber.Az and Mezha.net, pulled no punches. He stated, “If I were on Hamas’ side, I would basically conclude: ‘Let’s not make a ceasefire, we can be rewarded, we can claim this as a victory.’” According to Rubio, the timing was no coincidence: the ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas collapsed on the very day France officially recognized Palestine. The Secretary of State argued that this recognition shifted the negotiation dynamics, effectively undercutting incentives for Hamas to agree to a truce.
Rubio’s criticism didn’t stop at France. He noted that after Macron’s announcement, several other countries declared their intent to recognize Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 if a ceasefire was not reached by then. The US has called these steps “symbolic but harmful,” warning that they “complicate the achievement of peace” by muddying the waters at a delicate moment in the conflict.
This international domino effect—where one nation’s recognition triggers others to follow suit—has added fresh urgency to the diplomatic scramble. According to Mezha.net, from late July through early August, a number of states announced plans to recognize Palestine should peaceful negotiations fail. As of 2024, approximately 143 countries already recognize Palestine as an independent state, including Ukraine, but the issue remains hotly contested on the world stage. The complexity is compounded by the fact that Palestine’s control over its territory remains partial, with the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip all subject to different political and military influences.
Meanwhile, on the ground, the situation in Gaza grows ever more dire. On August 8, Israel’s military-political leadership approved a plan to take control of Gaza City, following remarks by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about strengthening defense and expanding control over the enclave. US Vice President J.D. Vance commented on the move, explaining that Israel’s actions aim to prevent further attacks and address the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, Vance emphasized that Washington does not plan to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, a stance that sets the US apart from its European allies.
Despite the resumption of daily tactical pauses by Israel to open humanitarian corridors, the region remains gripped by a severe food crisis. Since May, over 1,000 deaths from starvation have been reported, highlighting the stakes of the ongoing conflict and the urgent need for a resolution. Humanitarian aid continues to flow, but the challenges of distribution and security mean the crisis is far from over. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which might have provided a path to relief, have stalled amid these competing political pressures.
In the midst of these high-level diplomatic maneuvers, the role of mediators and unofficial channels has become more visible. Palestinian American businessman Bishara Bahbah, who played a pivotal role in mediating between Hamas and the Trump administration and helped secure the release of former hostage Edan Alexander, found himself at the center of media speculation. On August 10, Bahbah publicly denied reports that he had resigned from the US negotiation team, stating that he was never an official member. “False news was reported about me in Israel,” Bahbah wrote on Facebook. “I am still actively working to end the brutal war in Gaza.”
Bahbah clarified that he had served as a mediator at the request of Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, but was never formally part of the American negotiation team. He dismissed reports of disagreements with Witkoff, expressing “enormous respect” for the envoy and reaffirming his commitment to peace efforts. “My role is to carry your voice to all those responsible—big and small. I have not forgotten you and will not forget. Ceasefire talks are currently stalled,” he wrote in a message to Gaza’s residents.
Earlier, Bahbah promoted a ceasefire plan calling for a 70-day truce and the phased release of 10 hostages. However, this proposal was rejected by a senior Israeli official, who argued that no Israeli government would accept Hamas’s conditions, as they undermine the war’s objectives and hinder hostage releases. Bahbah has nonetheless been a key figure in indirect communication between the US and Hamas, including securing the release of Edan Alexander. The plan for Alexander’s release originated from Hamas through Bahbah’s mediation channel, not directly from the US. Direct negotiations collapsed after an Israeli leak that appeared intended to derail the talks, according to Ynet. Subsequently, Razi Hamed, a senior Hamas negotiator, reached out to Bahbah through Suha Arafat to propose Alexander’s release, and Hamas representatives in Doha and Gaza secured a US commitment—via Bahbah—to pressure Israel to renew humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Bahbah’s connection to Palestine runs deep. A former editor-in-chief of the Palestinian newspaper Al-Fajr and a veteran of multilateral peace talks in the 1990s, he has been a vocal supporter of a two-state solution. Though he lives in the United States, Bahbah’s sense of identity remains rooted in his homeland. “It will always be my home, no matter where I live,” he told Arab News in 2018. “My children were born in the U.S., but I registered them with UNRWA. When I die, I want to be remembered as a Palestinian. It is our eternal right.”
The international reaction to these recent developments has been mixed, reflecting the deep divisions and shifting alliances that characterize the Middle East peace process. While some countries see recognition of Palestine as a necessary step toward justice and self-determination, others—particularly the United States—view such moves as premature and potentially destabilizing. As the September deadline for potential UN recognition of Palestine approaches, the stakes could hardly be higher.
For now, the ceasefire remains elusive, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues, and the path to peace is as tangled as ever. With world leaders divided and local actors entrenched, the coming months will test the resolve and creativity of all those seeking an end to the violence and a just solution for the people of the region.
