Palestine (Washington Insider Magazine)— Senior Hamas sources cited by Al Jazeera said that following months of talks and negotiations between Israel and Hamas about a truce in the Gaza Strip, the armed group has accepted a proposal made by Egypt and with mediations by in Qatar.
Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, informed Egypt and Qatar on Monday that the Islamist group has agreed to the ceasefire proposal for the Gaza Strip.
Ceasefire Announcement Amid Evacuation
According to Elplural, The announcement comes shortly after Israel commenced the evacuation of the Palestinian population in Rafah, signaling preparations for a military offensive against what is perceived as the last stronghold of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Rafah currently hosts over 1.2 million displaced individuals due to the presence of Israeli troops sweeping through the enclave.
Positive Talks Yield Progress
Delegations from Egypt and Israel held negotiations in Tel Aviv over a truce in Gaza, which were hailed as “largely positive and successful.” According to individuals acquainted with the negotiations, many of Hamas’ demands were met.
Details of the ceasefire proposal and the stance of Israeli authorities remain undisclosed at this time.
Tensions Amidst Negotiation Standstill
Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel appeared to stall recently, particularly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls to end the conflict, a key demand from the Islamist group.
Warnings and Appeals
Amid these developments, thousands of Palestinians in Rafah received evacuation messages, prompting concerns of an imminent ground invasion by the Israeli Army in southern Gaza. Hamas issued a warning to Israeli forces, emphasizing their readiness to defend the Palestinian people.
Hamas also appealed to international organizations, including the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), urging them not to abandon the enclave in the face of Israeli evacuation orders.
