Hamas turns down Israel’s ceasefire proposal
Hamas rejected Israel’s ceasefire proposal, which called for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza and demanded the group’s disarmament, the BBC reported on April 15th.
A senior Palestinian official said that the proposal included no commitment to end the war or withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza. These two factors remain conditions for an agreement that would see the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The rejection comes during an ongoing Israeli military campaign across the Gaza Strip. A recent air strike hit a field hospital in Khan Younis. A hospital confirmed the death of a security guard and injuries to nine others. The Israel Defence Forces said it had hit the head of a Hamas cell.
According to the Middle East Eye on March 18th, as cited by Levantis, Israel ended a ceasefire by launching an attack that killed over 300 Palestinians. Pat McFadden, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, responded by stating that the UK government intends to restore the ceasefire as soon as possible.
Efforts to reach an agreement remain limited. The Middle East Eye reported on April 8th that the Gaza government rejected Israel’s proposed aid delivery strategy for Gaza. The Gaza media office said the plan involved direct aid distribution by Israeli soldiers or private companies linked to the occupation, which they rejected as unacceptable.
The United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said the UN would “not participate in any arrangement” that fails to comply with the “humanitarian principles” of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality. Aid crossings into Gaza have remained closed since early March, affecting access to essential supplies, Anadolu Agency reported on March 16th.
Talks continue through regional mediators, but no agreement has been reached. According to the BBC, a modified proposal presented by Egypt is currently under review by Hamas.
BBC, Middle East Eye, Anadolu Agency
