Tense talks for a second temporary truce in the Gaza war appear to have broken down after Hamas officials were outraged by Israel’s comments that fighting would resume regardless of the ceasefire.
While negotiations to release up to 40 hostages appeared to be heading in a positive direction yesterday, Hamas officials said Thursday they would not discuss any hostage exchange deal “except after a complete cessation of aggression.”
He echoed senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad’s recent comments to Al Jazeera, where he accused the Jewish state of trying to lure the terrorist group into a temporary pause instead of seeking an end to the war devastating Gaza.
“Some people are looking for a little break, a break here and there for a week, two weeks, three weeks,” Hamad said. “But we want to stop the aggression [completely].”
“Israel will take the hostage card and then begin a new round of mass murder and massacres against our people,” he added. “We will not play this game.”
Israel has reiterated that the war in Gaza will not end until Hamas is eliminated. AFP via Getty Images Clouds of smoke covered the Gaza Strip on Thursday following Israeli bombings. AFP via Getty Images Refugees who fled to southern Gaza are forced to flee further afield as war consumes the entire Palestinian enclave. AP
Hamas’ rejection came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech on Wednesday night, in which he reiterated that regardless of any ceasefire, the war will not end until the terrorist group is eradicated.
“Whoever thinks we will stop is far from reality,” Netanyahu said. “We continued the war until the end. “It will continue until Hamas is eliminated, until victory.”
The comments come as Egyptian and Qatari negotiators remain in talks with representatives of Israel and Hamas in an attempt to broker a deal to free an additional 40 hostages in exchange for a temporary truce, the freedom of Palestinian prisoners and more aid for Gaza. .
The families of those still detained in Gaza demand that Israel reach an agreement to release them immediately. Getty Images Israeli protests have continued for weeks in Tel Aviv as loved ones remain in captivity for more than two months. fake images
“Serious talks are underway between Israel and Hamas through mediators in an attempt to break the deadlock, but progress remains slow and no significant breakthrough has yet occurred,” a source briefed on the talks told the Financial Times. conversations.
The Jewish state believes there are still 128 hostages in Gaza, not all of them alive, following the week-long truce agreement that resulted in the release of 105 captives last month.
On Tuesday, Israel’s three main television networks presented the Jewish state’s negotiating objectives and revealed that its government wants Hamas to release specific hostages, including women, the elderly and people with physical or mental illnesses.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that a ceasefire would only be temporary and that the fighting would only end with the defeat of Hamas. via REUTERS Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said his group would not release more hostages until Israel leaves Gaza. WAEL HAMZEH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
President Biden told reporters yesterday that the United States was also pushing for Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire agreement as reports emerged that the death toll in Gaza surpassed 20,000.
“We are putting pressure on him. “There are no expectations right now, but we are pushing,” Biden said.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn