Hamas has reiterated its demand that Gaza truce negotiations focus on implementing an existing proposal rather than initiating new discussions. This statement follows Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of at least 19 Palestinians in the enclave.
The U.S. has indicated that peace talks scheduled for Thursday are expected to proceed as planned, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken set to travel to Qatar, Egypt, and Israel for discussions. Despite this, a Hamas official clarified that the group’s position remains unchanged, emphasising the need for action on a previously discussed deal rather than further negotiations.
“Our statement the other day was clear: what is needed is the implementation, not more negotiation,” the official said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue.
Earlier reports that Hamas planned to attend Thursday’s talks were deemed incorrect by the official, who emphasised that “what is needed is the implementation, not more negotiation.”
On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes struck several locations in the central and southern Gaza Strip, killing 19 Palestinians. The strikes targeted various sites, including Deir Al-Balah, where a strike killed six people, including a mother and her twin four-day-old babies. Seven others were killed in a strike on a house in the Al-Bureij camp. Additional strikes on the Al-Maghazi camp and Rafah claimed four lives, while two were killed in a strike on a house in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood. The Israeli military stated that these strikes aimed to target Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants, dismantling military structures and locating weaponry.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in nearly 40,000 Palestinian deaths, including many militants, while Israel has reported the loss of over 300 soldiers.
As international efforts to broker a ceasefire continue, leaders from the UK, France, and Germany have called for an immediate ceasefire but refrained from naming Israel in their joint statement. Instead, the focus was placed on Iran and its allies, urging them to avoid actions that could escalate regional tensions.
The statement supported the efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., and endorsed the joint call for an immediate resumption of negotiations based on U.S. President Joe Biden’s proposals. The leaders highlighted the urgent need for “an immediate ceasefire” but avoided condemning Israel’s role in the conflict.
The statement also underscored the need for an “urgent and unfettered” delivery of aid to Gaza’s population, amid further Israeli evacuation orders in southern Gaza that exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the region.
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