The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas said Monday evening that it had accepted a truce proposal submitted by mediators.
After the announcement, the Israeli army carried out intense bombardments on the east of the crowded town of Rafah, where residents had been urged to leave.
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Israel and Hamas at war
Hope for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas said Monday evening that it had accepted a truce proposal submitted by mediators. However, the talks are not over and the conflict continues: after Hamas’ announcement, the Israeli army carried out intense bombings on the east of the overpopulated town of Rafah, where residents had been urged to leave, according to AFP. The evacuation should prepare the ground, according to Israel, for a ground military operation in Rafah, which is opposed by many countries, including the United States, Jerusalem’s main ally, and international organizations.
Hamas announced in a statement that it had informed Egypt and Qatar, mediator countries with the United States, that it had “approved their proposal for a ceasefire agreement” with Israel in the Gaza Strip, devastated by seven months of war. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the proposal was “far from Israeli demands”, while adding that Israel would send a delegation “to mediation to exhaust the possibilities of reaching an agreement” truce.
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According to a senior Hamas official, Khalil al-Hayya, the proposal includes three phases, each lasting 42 days, and includes a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced and an exchange of hostages still held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, with the aim of “permanent ceasefire”.
Indirect negotiations led by Qatar, the United States and Egypt, aimed at achieving a truce associated with the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, began on Saturday in Cairo but ended on Sunday without advanced. Hamas demanded a definitive ceasefire while Israel said it was determined to destroy the Palestinian movement in power in Gaza since 2007, considered a terrorist organization by this country, the United States and the European Union.
