JERUSALEM: Hamas reaffirmed Tuesday its demand that Israel completely cease its attack on Gaza as part of any agreement to free prisoners, and it warned that US President-elect Donald Trump was hasty in threatening to impose “hell to pay” if they were not freed by his inauguration on January 20.
Many people in the area now see Trump’s inauguration as an unofficial deadline, as the departing US administration has called for a last-ditch effort to reach an agreement before Joe Biden leaves office.
However, as time runs out, both parties accuse the other of obstructing a deal by upholding terms that destroyed all prior attempts at peace for over a year.
Hamas claims that only if Israel agrees to end the war and remove all of its troops from Gaza will it release the remaining inmates. Israel claims that until Hamas is destroyed and all captives are released, the war will not be over.
Eden Bar Tal, the director general of Israel’s foreign ministry, told reporters at a briefing that Israel was completely committed to striking an agreement that “Hamas is the only obstacle to the release of the hostages.”
Speaking at a news conference in Algiers, Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan blamed Israel for sabotaging all attempts to achieve an agreement.
He reaffirmed Hamas’ demands for “a complete end to the aggression and a full withdrawal from lands the occupation invaded,” but he declined to provide specifics regarding the most recent session of talks.
In response to Trump’s warning that if all inmates weren’t released prior to the inauguration, there would be “hell to pay,” Hamdan stated: “I think the US president must make more disciplined and diplomatic statements.”
In the most intense attempt in months to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, group officials and Israel have been negotiating with mediators from Qatar and Egypt.
At least ten Palestinians were killed by Israeli military attacks in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, according to medical professionals, as diplomatic negotiations continue. The health ministry in the Hamas-controlled region called on international donors to give gasoline right now in order to continue medical services.
Six individuals were killed in various strikes throughout the enclave, according to medics, while four people were murdered in a house in Gaza City’s Beach camp in one of those hits.
Attempts at mediation
According to persons involved with the negotiations, the United Arab Emirates has discussed with Israel and the United States taking part in a temporary administration of post-conflict Gaza until a reformed Palestinian Authority can assume control.
According to a number of foreign diplomats and Western officials, the possibility of the United States and the United Arab Emirates, along with other countries, temporarily supervising the governance, security, and reconstruction of Gaza following the Israeli military’s withdrawal and until a Palestinian administration is able to take over was discussed behind closed doors.
Separately, mediator Qatar’s foreign ministry said Tuesday that “technical meetings” are being held between Israel and Hamas in an effort to solidify a truce in Gaza.
In reference to discussions with lower-level officials over the specifics of an agreement, ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari stated, “The technical meetings are still happening between both sides.”
“At this time, no principal meetings are being held.”
In contrast to most Arab regimes, the UAE maintains diplomatic relations with Israel and is a close security partner of the United States. According to the diplomats and officials, this gives the Gulf state some influence over the administration of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to the sources, Israel has openly resisted Abu Dhabi’s call for a restructured Palestinian Authority (PA) to rule over Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem under an independent Palestinian state.
In response to inquiries over the talks, a UAE official stated, “The UAE will not participate in any plan that fails to include significant reform of the Palestinian Authority, its implementation, and the establishment of a credible roadmap toward a Palestinian state.”
“The success of any post-Gaza plan depends on these components, which are currently absent.”
According to a US State Department official, partners have presented a number of draft proposals, plans, and concepts, and discussions on governance, security, and rebuilding possibilities have taken place with a number of partners, including the UAE.
