In the volatile landscape of the Israel-Palestine conflict, ceasefire negotiations hang in the balance as one incident can ignite a firestorm of controversy.
On Monday, May 6, 2024, Hamas voiced acceptance of the ceasefire deal but a day later, Israeli forces took hold of Rafah crossing.
As such, it is not all that surprising that Hamas criticicised latest move in Rafah.
Hamas Spokesperson, Osama Hamdan stated that Israel’s attack on the Rafah border crossing with Egypt is an attempt by Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to hinder agreement on and implementation of a ceasefire.
Speaking at a news briefing in Beirut, Hamdan said that the attack is “a crime and a serious and dangerous escalation against a civilian facility that is under the protection of international law.”
“Invading and attacking the Rafah crossing by [Israeli forces] with predetermination by Netanyahu is an attempt to hinder the implementation of the agreement to stop the attack on our people. It’s a desperate attempt to create a pseudo-victory that can save some face for Netanyahu. This will never be achieved.”
Osama Hamdan
Hamdan iterated that the mediators’ proposal is being put in jeopardy by Netanyahu.
“Hamas movement’s agreement on the proposal by the mediators have placed Netanyahu in a hard place and caused him to act in a hysteric fashion with statements that reveal a political defeat and a strategic loss,” Hamdan said.
“The ball now is in Netanyahu’s court,” he noted.
“Their behaviour and attitude after we announced our agreement reflects the determination by this criminal to spoil all attempts of mediation including those of the US and expresses carelessness for the lives of the captives who are threatened every day through the bombardments of the Israeli military.
“The ball is also in the court of the US administration … to prove and establish their sincerity by pressuring Netanyahu’s government.”
Osama Hamdan
U.S Hopeful Israel And Hamas Can “Close Gaps”
Meanwhile, the Biden administration is hopeful Israel and Hamas can “close the remaining gaps” in their ceasefire talks and a deal is reached soon.
“A close assessment of the two sides’ positions suggests that they should be able to close the remaining gaps, and we’re going to do everything we can to support that process,” National Security Council Spokesperson, John Kirby said.
He also said that CIA chief William Burns will attend the ongoing Cairo truce talks.
Kirby’s statement came moments before a statement from Hamas revealed that its negotiations, led by Khalil al-Hayya, have arrived in Cairo from Doha.
The statement revealed that the Hamas delegation travelled to Cairo in order to “follow up on efforts with the mediator brothers in Egypt and Qatar, to complete the agreement to stop the aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip.”
Hamas negotiators left Cairo late last week.
Israeli negotiators also arrived in Cairo on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, for talks on a truce in Gaza and release of abductees.
Netanyahu said in a statement shared by his office that he instructed the Israeli delegation to “stand firm on the conditions necessary for the release” of Israeli captives held in Gaza and on “essential requirements for guaranteeing Israel’s security.”
Kirby also told reporters during a news briefing that Israel has informed the US that its operations in Rafah will be focused on blocking weapons and financial support from being smuggled into Gaza.
The US has warned Israel against an assault on Rafah, which humanitarian groups say would have cataclysmic results for the hundreds of thousands of displaced people originally instructed by Israel to relocate there.
However, U.S has given few signs that it would dampen its support for Israel’s war if such an assault moves forward.
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