Hamas says Israel ignoring truce efforts by launching new Gaza assault
Hamas says Israel ignoring truce efforts by launching new Gaza assault
Hamas has accused Israel of ignoring mediators' efforts to reach a ceasefire by launching a new assault in Gaza City, believed to mark the first phase of the full occupation of the Strip.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Palestinian movement described the latest ground attack - dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots II” by Israel - as a “new act of genocide” against Palestinian civilians and a “deliberate disregard for the efforts of the mediators”.
Hamas said it had agreed to the latest ceasefire proposal put forward earlier this week by mediators Qatar and Egypt.
The agreement calls for a 60-day truce, during which negotiations for a permanent end to the war would begin. It also includes the release of nearly half of the remaining captives held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Israel has not officially responded to the proposal.
“We had agreed to the latest proposal put forward by the mediators, but the occupation government continues its aggression in a failed attempt to break our people’s will,” Hamas said.
“We affirm that this operation will fail, just as previous ones have, and we hold the occupation and the US administration fully responsible for its consequences.”
The statement came shortly after the Israeli army spokesman Effie Defrin said that they had begun "preliminary operations in Gaza City" ahead of a major new offensive aimed at occuping the city.
'We had agreed to the latest proposal put forward by the mediators, but the occupation government continues its aggression'
– Hamas spokesperson
Defrin said the Israeli army was "not waiting" and is "already taking control of the outskirts of Gaza City".
In recent days, Israel has intensified air strikes and artillery shelling south, east and north of Gaza City.
According to the Palestinian health ministry, Israeli forces killed at least 70 Palestinians on Wednesday.
Overall, Israeli forces have killed more than 62,000 Palestinians since the genocide in Gaza began nearly two years ago, including at least 18,000 children.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to hold a security meeting on Thursday to finalise the Gaza City occupation plan.
Ceasefire offer response delayed
Elsewhere, Haaretz reported that those close to Netanyahu cannot estimate when he will respond to the latest ceasefire proposal.
The deal's outline, which Hamas accepted on Monday, is "almost identical" to what Israel had previously agreed.
Sources involved in the talks indicated that Israel is readying its response under "deliberate secrecy," according to Haaretz.
A day after the proposal was accepted by Hamas, Israel’s strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer - a close ally of Netanyahu, and the man who heads Israel’s negotiating team in ceasefire talks - met with senior Qatari officials in Paris, according to Channel 12.
However, Israeli media has reported mixed reactions to the proposal, with some outlets expressing optimism about the deal, while others suggest that Netanyahu is no longer interested in partial agreements.
"He understands that a partial deal is not the right thing, and understands that it will be very difficult to resume fighting after a 60-day ceasefire," the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahranoth reported.
On Tuesday, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer signalled the rejection of the proposal accepted by Hamas.
He told the BBC that "things have changed now. The prime minister has laid out a plan for the future of Gaza."
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