Israel says no ceasefire in place as negotiators head to Egypt to discuss Trump plan
میدل-ایست-آی - 1404-07-13 18:07:23
Israel says no ceasefire in place as negotiators head to Egypt to discuss Trump plan
The Israeli government has said there is no ceasefire in effect in Gaza, as US President Donald Trump warned Hamas would face "complete obliteration" if it did not give up power and control of Gaza.
A spokesperson for Israel said that what was taking place in Gaza was just a temporary halt to some of the bombing, which chimes with Palestinian reports that Israel has continued to attack the enclave even as hopes emerged of an agreement to end the assault.
According to Al Jazeera, the spokesperson added that the army could continue operations in Gaza.
At least 65 Palestinians were killed and 153 others wounded by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip over the last 24 hours, the Palestinian health ministry said.
That brings the death toll in Gaza from Israeli attacks since October 2023 to 67,139, with an additional 169,583 people wounded. The majority of the victims are women and children.
Israeli negotiators are set to visit Egypt on Sunday for indirect talks with Hamas, which are expected to begin on Monday.
When asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on board with ending its bombings in Gaza and supporting the United States' plan to end the war, Trump told CNN on Sunday: "Yes on Bibi."
Hamas said on Friday that it was ready to release all Israeli captives as part of Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza, though it did not state that it agreed with other aspects of the proposal.
Khalil al-Hayya, a senior official in Hamas's political bureau, made a pre-recorded statement that aired in Qatar overnight, in his first televised appearance since Israel targeted him and other Hamas officials in Doha last month.
Hamas's top officials survived the strike, which killed six people and sparked international condemnation, including a rebuke from Trump.
The Hamas leader remained defiant in the interview, saying he drew no distinction between those killed in the attack on Doha, including his son, and the tens of thousands who have been killed during Israel's two year war on Gaza.
"We hope that their blood will pave the way to victory, the way to Jerusalem, the way to the disgrace of the occupation, and the way to the dignity and triumph of the nation," he said in the video aired by Al Araby Television Network in Qatar.
Despite the Trump administration's otherwise forthright support for Israel, there have been hints of frustration over Israel's conduct as the president attempts to secure an end to the war.
He had called on Friday for Israel to cease its bombing of Gaza, but so far there has been little let-up in attacks.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip had to "stop" to allow for an agreement on the release of captives.
"Once you agree on the logistical arrangements, I think the Israelis and everyone else will recognise that it's impossible to release hostages in the middle of the strikes, so the strikes will have to stop," Rubio said on CBS television.
"The bottom line is, yes, you cannot do an exchange if there's fighting going on, it's simply impossible," he said on another ABC channel, though adding that "the Israelis have said they will only deal with imminent threats".
