Palestinian group calls for escalation as peace talks stall
The spokesperson for Palestinian group Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obaida, made a televised speech on April 23rd — marking 200 days since the start of the Israel-Gaza war — during which he called for an escalation across all fronts, Reuters reported.
In the Al Jazeera aired speech, Obaida praised Iran’s April 13th attack on Israel, declaring that it “set new rules, drew important equations and confused the enemy and those behind it.”
His statement follows Israel’s alleged retaliatory strike against Iran, when Iranian media reported “three explosions” on April 19th. Yet Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian took to NBC News the following day to downplay such attacks as “the flight of two or three quadcopters.”
Obaida also called for an escalation in both the West Bank and Jordan, referring to them as “one of the most important Arab fronts.”
READ: Israeli war cabinet delays decision on Iran retaliation
Jordan lies between Iran and Israel, and, according to two regional security sources, intercepted dozens of Iranian drones that entered its airspace en route to Israel. Several Jordanians publicly reacted to this decision via social media.
One user took to X on April 16th, stating that Jordan’s king “protected Israel from Iranian drones [and] all is well. But he cannot protect the West Bank.”
The Palestinian group was calling “on the Jordanian people to step up their actions and raise their voices,” said Obaida.
He also added that Hamas would remain true to its outlined demands in ceasefire discussions — the end of Israel’s military offensive, the withdrawal of all of its offensive forces from Gaza, to allow for the displaced population to return to northern Gaza and to lift blockades.
READ: White House awaiting Hamas response to ceasefire proposal
Obaida accused the Israeli government of “stalling in reaching a hostage swap deal” and “trying to obstruct efforts by the mediators to reach a ceasefire agreement.”
These peace talks have been mediated by Qatar and Egypt.
On April 8th, Egyptian media reported alleged that “significant progress” had been made between the Israeli and Hamas delegates — but on April 13th, each side resorted to publicly accusing the other of being responsible for the current peace talk stalemate.
On April 23rd, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman insisted that all concerned parties should “show seriousness” in allowing such efforts to succeed.
Reuters
