Hamas accepted the ceasefire proposed by Egypt and Qatar. Palestinians erupted in applause in Rafah. Israel’s reaction

Update

Hamas announced late Monday that it had accepted Egypt and Qatar’s proposal for a truce aimed at stopping the seven-month war in the Gaza Striphours after Israel ordered the evacuation of 100,000 people from the southern city of Rafah, signaling that a ground invasion was imminent, reports A?.

By the Observator editorial office on 06.05.2024, 21:32

UPDATE 21:30. Israel’s reaction, after Hamas announced that it accepted the truce proposed by Qatar and Egypt

An Israeli official says a cease-fire agreement has not been reached in Gaza, even though the Hamas group announced it had accepted a proposal from mediators from Egypt and Qatar during negotiations in Cairo.

An Israeli official said on Monday that no ceasefire agreement had been reached in Gaza. This after Hamas said it had accepted a proposal from mediators from Egypt and Qatar, following negotiations in Cairo.

The Israeli official said the proposal Hamas accepted was a version of an Egyptian proposal that included aspects Israel could not accept. “This would appear to be a ploy to make Israel appear to be the party refusing an agreement,” said the Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Reuters reports, according to Mediafax.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on the deal, and details of the proposal have not yet been made public. Egyptian and Hamas officials have said in recent days that the truce would take place in a series of phases, during which Hamas would release hostages it is holding in exchange for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Hamas wants Israel to end its military offensive in the Gaza Strip

It is unclear whether the deal will meet Hamas’s key demand for a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Hamas said in a statement that its top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, conveyed the news in a phone call with Qatar’s prime minister and Egypt’s information minister. After the release of the statement, Palestinians erupted in applause in the tent camps spread around the city of Rafah, hoping that the agreement will stop the imminent Israeli attack, informs the Associated Press.

Benjamin Netanyahu insists on the offensive in Rafah, with or without a ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced the launch of a ground offensive in the city of Rafah, regardless of the outcome of indirect negotiations with Hamas through Qatar, the United States and Egypt for a truce, a release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip and a release of to some Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected, on Sunday, Hamas’ demands to end the war in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages, saying that this would keep the Palestinian Islamist group in power, which will continue to represent a threat to Israel’s security, reports Reuters.

Netanyahu said Israel was willing to cease fighting in the Gaza Strip to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130.

“But while Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, primarily in demanding the removal of all our forces from the Gaza Strip, an end to the war, and leaving Hamas in power.” , Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu remains firm on his positions: “We are doing everything possible to free the kidnapped people”

Israel “cannot accept” Hamas’ request that a cease-fire agreement currently being discussed in Cairo provide for a definitive cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli prime minister said, quoted by AFP.

“Israel cannot accept this. Hamas would be able to fulfill its promise to carry out massacres, rapes and kidnappings again and again and again,” he insisted, according to Agerpres.

“We are not prepared to accept a situation in which the Hamas battalions leave their shelters, take control of the Gaza Strip, rebuild their military infrastructure and threaten Israeli citizens again in the adjacent communities,” said the Israeli prime minister, also quoted by EFE.

Netanyahu stated that Israel will not accept the demands of the Palestinian group and that it will continue to fight until it achieves all its goals in the war. “Hamas is the one preventing the release of the kidnapped people. We are doing everything possible to release the kidnapped people,” he assured on Sunday.

We will return with details.