Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior official of the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, said they appreciated “Biden’s idea” but the current ceasefire proposal did not make any firm commitments to end the fighting.
“The Israeli documents speak of endless negotiations,” Abu Zuhri told Reuters. There is no final deadline. And it is said that the occupying forces will get back their hostages and the war will start again. We have told the mediators that such papers are not acceptable to us.’
He said, “The US document does not mention the cessation of aggression or the withdrawal of Israeli forces.”
Ceasefire talks resume
Israel bombards central Gaza. Meanwhile, international negotiations have resumed to reach an agreement to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages. Palestinian officials reported several casualties after Israel bombed central Gaza overnight on Wednesday. Israel has also stepped up bombing and shelling of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Earlier, Israeli forces announced a specific operation in Burez and eastern Deir al-Balah. Palestinian officials said 11 people were killed in Israeli strikes near al-Maghazi camp and two near Deir al-Balah. Several people were injured.
The charity organization ‘Medicines Sans Frontiers’ said that at least 70 people were killed and more than 300 injured people were taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital in the massive Israeli bombardment in central Gaza since Tuesday. The organization’s medical adviser in Gaza described the situation as dire, saying there were wounded people lying on the floor and in front of the hospital. Dead bodies are being brought in plastic bags.
Meanwhile, some Arab countries, including the G7, are supporting the three-phase Israeli plan for a six-week cease-fire, the release of hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the strengthening of relief aid. However, Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel has clearly rejected this demand of Hamas.
The country’s prime minister, Egypt’s intelligence chief discussed a ceasefire and the release of hostages with Hamas on Wednesday in Doha, Qatar, news agency AFP said, citing sources close to the talks.
However, in Beirut on Tuesday, a senior Hamas official accused Israel, saying that they want endless negotiations. He reiterated his group’s position that no agreement would be accepted without the terms of a permanent ceasefire.
It should be noted that on October 7 of last year, the Palestinian organization Hamas launched a sudden large-scale attack on Israel. In retaliation, Israel launched and continues a brutal offensive in Gaza.
36 thousand 586 Palestinians have been killed so far in this continuous Israeli attack on Gaza. Most of them are women and children.
Sources: Al Jazeera and AFP