Hamas calls for a stop in hostilities in response to the ceasefire offer
Hamas and Islamic Jihad noted that their reaction would prioritize the "betterment of our Palestinian populace" and "highlight the necessity for a halt to the current aggression towards the Gaza Strip." Both organizations are "prepared to interact in an attempt to reach an understanding that concludes this conflict."
Prior to this, distinguished representatives of Hamas had unveiled they had delivered an official reaction to mediators in the discussions on the truce between Israel and Hamas, Egypt, and Qatar. Wednesday was bombarded with mixed reports about the specific content of the response. A confidential source, who opted to remain anonymous, informed the AFP news agency that the response sent to Israel involved "modifications." Israeli media and the American news source Axios conveyed that Hamas declined the blueprint.
In reaction, Hamas representatives disclosed a statement penned by Issat al-Rishk, who stated the reaction of the Palestinian organization was "accountable, serious, and beneficial" and provided "a pathway to an agreement." The Israeli media coverage was "evidence of attempts to free Israel from the responsibilities of the arrangement," he mentioned.
The White House informed on Tuesday that they were investigating the Hamas response to the plan. "We have accepted the response given by Hamas, Egypt, and Qatar, and we are currently assessing it," said the National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, to journalists.
The plan encompassed proposals put forth by US President Joe Biden in late May for an "immediate and complete" truce between Israel and the Islamist Hamas.
The plan incorporated the withdrawal of the Israeli military from populated regions of the Gaza Strip, as well as the release of Hamas-held peers in exchange for Palestinian detainees. An initial six-week truce would follow, which could be extended as talks continued for a permanent end to the combat.
The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have endeavored to forge a pact between Israel and Hamas for a considerable duration, but without success up to now. During a recent exploit to the Middle East, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken championed the Biden-catalyzed plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sanctioned his support for the plan at a meeting, Blinken shared on Tuesday in Tel Aviv.
While this transpired, Blinken shared at a humanitarian convention for the Gaza Strip in Jordan additional American aid for the Palestinians in the value of $404 million (approximately 377 million euros). He additionally urged further assistance from other countries. "Some have expressed their apprehension about the hardship of the Palestinian populace in the Gaza Strip, including nations that have the capacity to donate much or nothing and have not donated anything," stated the esteemed US official.
The humanitarian condition in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic subsequent to eight months of war. Since the onset of the war in October, US relief for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and other areas in the region surpassed $670 million. Mainly, the funds were designated to the World Food Program and private aid groups.
Financial support for the UN Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA) had been suspended by the US Congress, following reports of UNRWA employees engaging in the October 7th assault by the radical Islamist Hamas on Israel. Blinken continues to journey across the Middle East until Wednesday. After his journey to Jordan, he was due to fly to Qatar.
The war was ignited by the unparalleled Hamas strike on Israel on October 7th, with 1194 Israelis allegedly killed in the Gaza Strip, as per Israeli claims. 116 hostages are still in the custody of Hamas, according to the Israeli military, 41 of whom have been reported dead.
Since the commencement of the war, violence escalated drastically in the West Bank, occupied by Israel. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry and the Red Crescent, six Palestinians between the ages of 21 and 32 were shot during an Israeli army venture on Tuesday.
Concurrently, as per the Hisbollah militia, a prominent commander of the Iran-backed radical Islamic group was killed in an Israeli assault in southern Lebanon on Tuesday. The Hisbollah designated the commander as Sami Abdallah, also known as Abu Taleb, and later confirmed the death of a further Hisbollah fighter.
The violence started with the uncommon assault by Hamas on Israel on October 7th, which killed, according to Israeli estimates, 1194 individuals and captivated 251 people in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is still detaining 116 of these hostages, the Israeli military said.
In response to the Hamas ambush, Israel has been enacting a fierce military venture in the Gaza Strip since then. According to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, a considerable number of people have been slain, with more than 37,100 reported fatalities.
Read also:
- Despite Hamas's call for a ceasefire, the "current aggression towards the Gaza Strip" continues, as emphasized by the Palestinian organization.
- The "modifications" in Hamas's response to the ceasefire proposal have been reported by an anonymous source to AFP, causing confusion in the media.
- In response to media reports of rejected proposals, Hamas spokesperson Issat al-Rishk stressed that their reaction was "beneficial" and " accounts for a pathway to an agreement."
- The US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that the White House is assessing Hamas's response to the ceasefire proposal put forth by President Joe Biden.
- The ceasefire proposal included the withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas in the Gaza Strip and the release of Hamas-held prisoners in exchange for Palestinian detainees.
- The US, Egypt, and Qatar have been attempting to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for an extended period, but, as Tony Blinken stated, "without success so far."
- Blinken additionally pledged $404 million in aid to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip during a recent humanitarian conference in Jordan.
- The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated significantly since October, with US relief efforts exceeding $670 million.
- Financial support for UNRWA, a Palestinian relief agency, has been suspended by the US Congress following allegations of UNRWA employees' involvement in October's Hamas attack on Israel.
- The war began with Hamas's unprecedented strike on Israel, resulting in over 1,100 reported deaths and 116 hostages being held by Hamas, according to Israeli military estimates.
