In a dramatic turn of events, it has been stated by Hamas that it will not engage in any more ceasefire talks as long as the ongoing attacks by Israelis on the Gaza Strip exist. This anti-Zionist Islamist group operating in the region and engaged in war with Israel declared itself ready to swap prisoners and hostages as part of a comprehensive ‘total package,’ but only if the latter would cease the war.
The latest is that the ICJ, the highest UN court, has demanded that Tel Aviv stop the operation in the southern Gazan city of Rafah. However, Israel has continued with this military operation in the name of saving hostages and also eliminating Hamas fighters.
Hamas has condemned ‘Israeli aggression and blockade, Gaza ‘suffocation’, and the killing of the Palestinians, and has stated it will not participate in any talks under the current conditions. Holding a similar position, its statement also mentioned the group’s willingness to negotiate and sign a broad deal that includes prisoner swaps if it is ready to cease the war.
The peace negotiations brokered by Egypt and Qatar have been fraught with challenges in the past with each side accusing the other of failure to continue the progressed ceasefire talks. Israel has dismissed previous offers by Hamas as inadequate and has threatened to dismantle the group, which poses a perceived genocidal threat to its existence.
The conflict in Gaza has worsened, with the health ministry in Gaza reporting that Gaza has lost nearly 3.6 million Palestinians in the defense by Israel. On the other hand, it stated that the operation was conducted in retaliation for a Hamas-led attack on the southerners on Israeli communities a year ago in which about 1,200 people perished and over 250 hostages were taken.
Currently, Gaza is in a troublesome state, and the rest of the world is watching the events unfold and is expecting both parties to sort out their differences in a non-violent manner.
