Hamas Will Join Ceasefire Talks Without "Clear Commitment From Israel"
Hamas will not join the Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar. Top Hamas official said that the resistance movement will not take part in the ceasefire negotiation on Thursday, whether they take place in Doha or Cairo. The resistance group demands Israel to stick to the original truce proposal presented by US President Joe Biden, and backed by United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Hamas official Suhail Hindi told Andolu news agency that the movement has requested a “clear commitment from Israel regarding what was agreed upon on July 2”. It was based on proposal backed by US President Joe Biden. He said Hamas is ready to engage in the implementation of mechanisms of the agreement, if Israel agreed to move according to the proposal presented by Biden.
Osama Hamdan, a Hamas political official, told Al Jazeera, “We expect to be told by the mediators that Israel has accepted what is being offered and any meeting should be based on talking about implementation mechanisms and setting deadlines rather than negotiating something new. Otherwise Hamas finds no reason to participate”.
Hamas’ demand to present the ceasefire plan supported by Biden’s proposal came after Egyptian, Qatari, and US mediators urged Tel Aviv and the Gaza resistance group to conclude a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal with no further delays or excuses.
Also Read: Stop Bu****ng Me: What Biden Told Netanyahu After Haniyeh Assassination
On May 31st, Joe Biden detailed a proposal, what he said was an Israeli ceasefire proposal. He called it a “road map” to a lasting truce and freedom for the hostages.
The proposal included three phases. The first phase is for six weeks. It included a “full and complete ceasefire”, and withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza. The phase will also see the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The displaced Palestinians will be able to return to their homes and humanitarian aid would be increased.
That six weeks could also be used to negotiate an agreement on the second phase, which would include the release of all remaining hostages, including male soldiers, and full withdrawal of Israel from Gaza. The temporary ceasefire talks would become permanent.
Also Read: Hamas Urges For Implementation Of Biden Plan
During the third phase, major reconstruction pf Gaza will start. It will take decades to rebuild Gaza, from the devastation caused by Israeli war.
However, the talks of negotiation went downhill when Hamas’ political bureau head Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran. Iran and Hamas hold Israel responsible. The latter did not claim responsibility.
Joe Biden said the apparent assassination had “not helped” ceasefire efforts, freezing the negotiations.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of dragging the war out for his own political survival. He has been scuttling the ceasefire talks. Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners have time and again pledged to topple the government if he agrees to a ceasefire, which could trigger elections that might oust him from power.
