Diplomatic efforts for a truce in the fighting in Gaza combined with the release of hostages intensified on Sunday, as Israel continued its strikes on the besieged Palestinian territory threatened with famine. A senior Hamas official announced that a delegation from the movement will give its response on Monday in Cairo to a proposed Israeli truce associated with the release of hostages, almost seven months after the start of the war, triggered by the bloody attack on Hamas. Palestinian Islamist movement against Israel on October 7.
On Saturday, Hamas announced that it was “studying” this counter-proposal, specifying that it “will submit its response once its study is completed.” Meanwhile, the war knows no respite in the small besieged territory where Hamas took power in 2007. The Israeli army said on Sunday that it had struck “dozens of terrorist targets” in central Gaza. It also claims to be preparing a ground offensive in Rafah where there are a million and a half Palestinians, mainly displaced people. Many capitals and humanitarian organizations fear a bloodbath in this city already regularly bombarded by the army.
Information to remember:
- Hamas delegation to respond Monday in Egypt to Israel’s proposals on truce in Gaza
- Hostages could also be released during this new truce
- New bombings on the Gaza Strip have left 66 dead in the last 24 hours
From Saudi Arabia, where a special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is being held from Sunday, the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, called on the United States to prevent a ground invasion in Rafah. If it were to take place, the operation would be the “greatest disaster in the history of the Palestinian people”, he said.
Hamas says it has no ‘major problem’ with proposed Egyptian truce
Efforts to reach a truce in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza appeared to have made progress on Sunday, with the terrorist movement saying it had not seen any “major problems” with a latest ceasefire proposal associated with the liberation hostages. “The atmosphere is positive, barring new obstacles posed by Israel,” a Hamas official told AFP on condition of anonymity. “No major problem is raised in the observations and requests that Hamas will submit regarding the content of the proposal” submitted by Egypt, said this official.
Biden and Netanhayou spoke about the release of hostages and a ceasefire
United States President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone again on Sunday about the conflict in the Gaza Strip, including the release of hostages held by Hamas and a ceasefire. The two allied states “reviewed ongoing discussions on the release of hostages as well as an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” the White House said in a statement, while diplomatic efforts in this direction intensify this Sunday.
The future pier in Gaza will not be able to replace the land delivery of aid
The pier under construction in Gaza should make it possible within “two to three weeks” to transport more humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory bombed and besieged by Israel, the White House said on Sunday. But this transport by sea cannot replace land convoys, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stressed on Sunday.
This facility “will certainly increase the volume of aid delivered”, but “nothing can replace the land routes and trucks coming in” to Gaza, John Kirby said in an interview on ABC. “We will probably have to wait two to three weeks before an operation,” he said. Faced with delays and blockages from Israel regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid by land in a Gaza Strip hit by a humanitarian disaster, American President Joe Biden announced in early March the construction of an artificial port.
“A deal now”
These diplomatic negotiations are taking place while awaiting Hamas’ response to the Israeli counter-proposal. The details of this proposal have not filtered but according to the Axios site, which cites Israeli officials, it includes the desire to discuss “the establishment of lasting calm” in Gaza. Meanwhile, internal pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government continues to increase. On Saturday evening, thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv to demand the release of hostages kidnapped on October 7.
That day, Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel resulting in the deaths of 1,170 people, mainly civilians, according to an AFP report based on official Israeli data. More than 250 people have been kidnapped and 129 remain captive in Gaza, 34 of whom have died according to Israeli officials.
In retaliation, Israel vowed to annihilate Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization, as well as the United States and the European Union. Its offensive in Gaza left 34,454 dead, mostly civilians, according to a new report from Hamas on Sunday.
“A deal, now!” protesters chanted Saturday evening, while calling on the Netanyahu government to resign. Shortly before, Hamas released a video showing two hostages, Keith Siegel, 64, and Omri Miran, 47. This is the second video released in several days by Hamas. At the rally in Tel Aviv, Omri Miran’s father urged Hamas to “show humanity,” also asking it to “make a decision now.”
Strikes and artillery fire
On the ground, there was no lull. Throughout Saturday, the Israeli navy targeted Hamas targets and provided support to troops deployed in the center of the territory, the army said Sunday. According to an AFP correspondent, the Israeli army carried out airstrikes and artillery fire in several areas of the Gaza Strip, notably in Khan Younes and Rafah, two towns in the south of the territory, as well as in Gaza City (north). In total, 66 Palestinians died in 24 hours, according to Hamas.
“We are tired after seven months of displacement and struggle in the camps. So we insisted on returning and staying in a tent on the rubble of our house,” in Khan Younes, Abdelqader Mohammed Qwaider told AFPTV.
In addition to the destruction and heavy human toll, the war has caused a humanitarian catastrophe in the Palestinian territory where 2.4 million people live. Strictly controlled by Israel, humanitarian aid comes in trickles.
On Saturday, a British ship left Cyprus to accommodate hundreds of US military personnel who are building an artificial pier in Gaza to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. In the process, Cyprus announced that a ship loaded with aid, which returned from Gaza in early April after an Israeli strike killed seven humanitarian workers, was heading back towards the Palestinian territory. The Israeli army said on Saturday that 25,000 humanitarian aid trucks had entered Gaza since October 7. The UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) puts the figure at 23,000 trucks.