Osama Hamdan, a Hamas senior spokesman, has disclosed that ceasefire talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt are still ongoing.
He stated that one of the “key elements” discussed is Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s aim of sending the army into Rafah.
This came as a Hamas delegation arrived in Egypt for negotiations on a ceasefire.
“Unfortunately, there was a clear statement from Netanyahu saying that regardless to what may happen, if there was a ceasefire or not, he will continue the attack,” he said.
“That means there will be no ceasefire, and that means that the attack will be continued, which is against what we are discussing,” he added.
“At least we want to know exactly what it means, his statement, and the reaction from the mediators. Our understanding that any achievement for a ceasefire means that there will be no more attacks against Gaza and Rafah.”
Osama Hamdan
Nonetheless, Hamdan said that it’s clear that negotiations are moving forward, stating, “There are some good points.”
He noted, “But till now, we are still talking about the main issue, which is the complete ceasefire and complete withdrawal from Gaza. We hope to find some good and positive answers today.”
Osama Hamdan said that during three months of negotiations to end Israel’s war on Gaza, there have been “some forward steps.”
“I think the mediators, our brothers in Egypt and Qatar, they are doing a good job. This is why we are still hoping to achieve the main goal, a complete ceasefire and withdrawal from Gaza,” he said.
Moreover, Hamdan asserted that the war could end immediately if the US decided it should.
“We have to talk about the real position of the United States because that is the main issue which will affect the position of the Israelis, and mainly Netanyahu,” Hamdan told a news agency.
“If the United States administration has said clearly to Netanyahu, enough is enough… I assure you that will happen,” he stated.
U.S Hesitant To Use Leverage Over Israel
Rami Khouri, a distinguished fellow at the American University of Beirut, said that U.S President, Joe Biden had “total leverage” over Israel if he wanted to exercise it, saying, “Because Israel cannot do anything militarily without the US.”
“But the US President is hesitant to use that power,” he stated.
“What we’ve seen from the US is a lot of verbal pressure, and threats and cajoling, but without any carry through. For instance, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made seven trips to Israel to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, and it’s increased by 10 percent or 15 percent.”
Rami Khouri
He also said that while Hamas and Israel continue to be far apart in the ongoing ceasefire talks, the gap appears to be narrowing.
“One of the problems in situations like this is that whatever anybody says, it could be factual, it could be wishful thinking, it could be for domestic political advantage and it could be to hold off foreign pressures,” he stated.
“So probably only about 30 to 40 percent of what people say – Israeli, American or Hamas – is accurate,” he opined.
Earlier, Tamer Qarmout, a Professor at the Doha Institute of Graduate Studies, said that the US government needs to step in to save the latest round of Israel-Hamas truce talks.
“I think the situation has worsened because we have just received statements from the Israeli side, especially Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who bluntly told Netanyahu not to send a delegation to Cairo and reminded him of his commitment a couple of days ago that he must invade Rafah,” Qarmout told a news agency.
“It’s a very tricky time. There is a 50-50 chance of talks succeeding,” he noted.
He added, “I think if the Americans don’t step in and put their weight behind these negotiations, I feel they will collapse.”
