The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, in power in the Gaza Strip, has informed mediators from Qatar and Egypt that it agrees with the Qatari-Egyptian ceasefire proposal. This was reported by the same group in a press release issued by the Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, family members of the hostages blocked parts of the Ayalon Highway on Monday evening, to pressure the government to agree to a deal on their release.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israel was evaluating Hamas’ response to the ceasefire proposal, along with any options that would lead to the return of the hostages, Israeli newspaper Jerusalem reported Post.
Previously, in a post on
What does the proposal from Egypt and Qatar accepted by Hamas consist of?
Sources cited by the broadcaster Al Jazeera revealed that the Egyptian-Qatari proposal accepted by Hamas would include three phases, each lasting 42 days. In the first phase, a truce would begin, along with an Israeli withdrawal from the Netzarim corridor that Israel uses to divide northern and southern Gaza.
A second phase would include approving a permanent cessation of military and hostile operations and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The proposal also includes a provision approving the end of the blockade of Gaza in the third phase.
Offensive in Rafah
Despite Hamas’ move, Israel is reportedly continuing with its plans for the disputed operation in Rafah. In fact, when asked by Israeli journalists, IDF spokesperson Hagari stated that despite recent developments, Israel is still preparing for the possibility of an operation in Rafah.
This morning it was reported that Hamas had suspended hostage talks while Israel ignored warnings from world leaders and pushed ahead with plans for a military operation in Rafah, starting with the evacuation of Palestinians from the area that has so far been the only possibility of salvation from the offensive conducted by the State of Israel in the Palestinian enclave.
The order was strongly condemned by the European Union. In a message on UN 2728. “The EU, together with the international community, can and must act to prevent such a scenario,” Borrell said.
Following operations conducted by the Israeli Armed Forces in other areas of the Gaza Strip, the population of Rafah has grown to around 1.4 million people, compared to around 275,000 residents before the war that began after Hamas attacks on the Jewish state I drank it on October 7th.
For months, Israel’s main allies, in particular the United States, have been putting pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an attempt to dissuade him from authorizing a military operation in Rafah which could have devastating consequences both on a humanitarian level and for the security situation in regional level.
As reported by the White House in a note, US President Joe Biden reiterated his clear position to Netanyahu. Biden already told the Israeli prime minister in April that an invasion of Rafah would be a “mistake,” and Washington has made clear that it will not support an offensive without a credible plan to protect the civilians taking refuge there.
“The president reiterated his clear position on Rafah,” the White House said in a statement reporting a phone call between the two leaders on Monday. During this appeal, Netanyahu also “agreed to ensure that the Kerem Shalom crossing is open for humanitarian aid for those in need,” the White House added.
Israel closed the crossing with the Gaza Strip after the missile attacks carried out by Hamas since Sunday 5 May. The conversation between Biden and Netanyahu came in conjunction with the visit to Washington of King Abdullah II of Jordan, a key US ally and the second Arab country, after Egypt, to recognize the Jewish state and sign a peace treaty in 1994.
