Netanyahu criticizes ceasefire proposal – army attacks targets in Rafah
Hamas approves mediator’s proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip
The Islamist Hamas says it has agreed to a proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza war put forward by mediators Egypt and Qatar. WELT-TV reporter Max Hermes reports from Tel Aviv.
Talks about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip have been going on for weeks. Now the terrorist organization Hamas agreed to an Egyptian-Qatari proposal. But Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu does not see this as fulfilling Israel’s demands.
IIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the current proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza is far from meeting Israeli demands. Nevertheless, a working delegation will be sent to further discussions. Netanyahu also said Israel would continue its military operation in Rafah. The office of the Qatari foreign minister also announced that it would send a delegation to Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday to get the indirect negotiations going again.
The Israeli military reiterated a call to evacuate the eastern part of Rafah. The army also said it had attacked targets of the terrorist organization Hamas in the east of the city on Monday evening.
According to the Islamist Hamas television station, Israeli tanks are said to be shelling the Kerem Shalom border crossing with the Gaza Strip from a distance of 200 meters.
Further unconfirmed Palestinian media reports state that there are intensive Israeli military attacks in the area around Rafah.
Source: OpenStreetMap; Infographic WORLD
According to Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, the Israeli military also plans to take control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between the Palestinian territory and Egypt within a few hours.
Hamas accepts proposals, but not Israel’s
Hours before the attacks, Hamas said it was accepting a ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar. However, the details of the proposal were not known. Israeli media, citing unnamed government officials, reported that Hamas’ plan differed from an earlier Israeli draft that Israel and Egypt agreed to 10 days ago and which was the basis of indirect negotiations.
According to Israeli television Channel 12, “all sorts of clauses” have been inserted. Another report said it was a one-sided proposal without involving Israel. Egypt unilaterally relaxed the regulations so that Hamas would agree.
Israel’s Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir spoke in the Hamas online “games” service. There should only be one answer: the capture of the city of Rafah and the victory over Hamas, wrote the right-wing extremist politician. An unnamed cabinet member reportedly spoke of a deceptive maneuver by Hamas to portray Israel as an objector.
The US government announced in the evening that it would examine the proposal and coordinate with partners in the region. A US State Department spokesman noted that CIA Director Bill Burns is currently in the Middle East to work toward a ceasefire.
Hamas speaks of a three-stage ceasefire
Hamas said on its website that the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniya, had spoken by telephone with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hajja said the agreed proposal calls for a three-stage ceasefire with the aim of a permanent ceasefire.
Al-Hajja told Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera that each of the three phases would last 42 days. The agreement also contains plans for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of Palestinians displaced by the ongoing war and an exchange of hostages with prisoners. Israel has so far rejected a complete withdrawal.
Cheers in Rafah
Hamas’ announcement came a few hours after Israel ordered the evacuation of parts of Rafah. According to Israel, the city in the southern Gaza Strip is Hamas’s last stronghold. Israel has set itself the goal of dismantling the militant Islamist organization that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped around 250 in a terrorist attack with allies in early October. US President Joe Biden expressed concern about the consequences of a possible military offensive on Rafah in a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also spoke out strongly against a ground offensive in the city. It would have devastating humanitarian consequences and destabilize the region.
People cheer on the streets in Rafah
Source: REUTERS
Following the news of Hamas’ acceptance of the ceasefire proposal, people in Rafah took to the streets in celebration, the AP news agency reported; as if peace had already been achieved. According to an AFP reporter, people shouted slogans, cried tears of joy and shot in the air.