The Hamas terrorist group announced to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators thatwho accepts the ceasefire agreement. This is stated by the Al Jazeera network.
“Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, spoke by telephone with Qatari Prime Minister Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abas Kamel and informed them that Hamas approved its proposed ceasefire agreement” in Gaza, according to a statement published on the Islamist movement’s website.
“The ball is now in the court” of Israel, which can choose “between accepting the ceasefire agreement, or putting obstacles to it,” declared this official, who asked not to reveal his identity.
At the moment the details of the proposal are not known, nor the position of the Israeli authorities.
The United States said Monday it is “examining” Hamas’s response to a ceasefire proposal and He once again asked Israel not to attack the Gazan city of Rafah.
“I can confirm that Hamas has issued a response. We are examining that response now and discussing it with our partners in the region,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
It appeared that indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip were at a standstill, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday refused to end the war, a key demand of the Islamist group.
This morning, in fact, thousands of Palestinians in the southern town of Rafah received messages urging them to evacuate to the Khan Yunis arearaising alarms about the possibility that the Army will soon begin its announced ground invasion in southern Gaza.
The Islamist group warned Israeli forces that any military operation in Rafah “it won’t be a picnic”and that the group’s armed wing, the al Qasam Brigades, are prepared to “defend our people.”
Hamas also asked international organizations still operating in the enclave, and in particular the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), not to abandon it following Israeli evacuation orders.
Shortly before, Haniyeh had informed Egypt and Qatar that the Islamist group had accepted his proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas made the announcement in a brief statement in which it offered no further details, after the Israeli Army order some 100,000 Palestinians in eastern Rafah evacuate the town in the event of a possible ground assault.
Biden-Netanyahu Dialogue
United States President Joe Biden reiterated to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that opposes an invasion of Rafahthe White House reported, after Israel asked Palestinians to evacuate part of this Gaza city, defying American warnings.
Both leaders spoke on Monday, in the midst of Biden’s diplomatic offensive to resume negotiations on a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and shortly before a lunch with King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House.
Biden told Netanyahu in April to invade Rafah will be an error”. Washington opposes an offensive without a plan to help some 1.2 million civilians sheltered there.
“The president reiterated his clear position on Rafah”the White House said in a brief statement.
He adds that Biden also briefed the Israeli prime minister on negotiations to release hostages held by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
