Ceasefire in Gaza? One key dispute holds everything back
On Sunday, the latest round of informal talks began. Both sides want to end the terrible 21-month war that has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to UN-recognized numbers from Gaza's Health Ministry.
A very important Palestinian source said that Israel came up with a plan for a partial pullout on Friday. This plan would keep Israeli troops in more than 40% of Gaza. Hamas has flatly refused the plan, seeing it as an ostensibly legal rule that would separate Gaza into small areas that can't connect with other areas or move around freely.
The source warned that the plan is meant to force hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have been forced to leave their homes into a small area in western Rafah. This could lead to their being sent to Egypt or other countries.
Even though there was no movement, another Palestinian official said that some things were getting better, like the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and the sending of emergency aid. Reports say that mediators have asked both sides to wait to talk about the pullout question again until U.S. envoy Steve Wietckoff gets to Doha.
Israeli armed actions are still going on the ground. The IDF said that in the last 48 hours, it had hit 250 "terror targets," such as caves, weapons caches, spotter posts, and places where anti-tank missiles could be launched. Over 20 people were killed in Gaza, including a whole family in Deir al-Balah, according to the civil defense.
On the other hand, seven UN agencies warned on Saturday that Gaza's fuel shortages have hit a critical level, which could shut down already overworked relief services and make the food situation worse.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Roya News
13 minutes ago
- Roya News
Netanyahu claims Hamas rejected proposed deal, insists on remaining in Gaza
'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Sunday that Hamas has rejected recent captive exchange proposals, including a plan advanced by 'Israeli' negotiator Ronen Bar and another by international mediators. 'We want a deal, but not one that allows Hamas to repeat the crimes it committed,' Netanyahu reportedly told 'Israeli' media, insisting that any agreement must involve dismantling Hamas's military capabilities and preventing its rearmament. He added that 'Israel' remains committed to bringing home the captives, but said this must go hand-in-hand with what he described as the destruction of Hamas. Netanyahu rejected accusations from 'Israeli' media that he is obstructing negotiations, claiming they are 'echoing Hamas propaganda.' He also dismissed recent polls showing strong public support for a deal, calling them 'engineered surveys.' Netanyahu defended his recent four-day visit to Washington, which many reports say failed to yield a ceasefire announcement, calling it 'very successful' and accusing media outlets of misrepresenting both his intentions and public sentiment. 'We accepted the deal, the [US envoy Steve] Witkoff framework, and even the modified version suggested by the mediators. Hamas refused it,' he claimed, referring to ongoing talks in Doha. He alleged that Hamas's goal is to remain in Gaza, rearm, and continue launching attacks, stating: 'I won't accept that.' Netanyahu also dismissed polling data showing widespread support for a deal, arguing that the questions fail to present the full picture. 'These are manipulated polls… They don't ask: Do you want a deal that leaves Hamas in place so it can commit murder, rape, and kidnappings again?' Reiterating his position, Netanyahu said: 'We must insist on releasing the hostages and on the other war objective: eliminating Hamas and ensuring Gaza can no longer threaten Israel. That's what I'm doing.' In response, 'Israel's' Channel 12 clarified that its survey, showing 74 percent support for a deal, including 60 percent of Netanyahu coalition voters, asked whether respondents supported releasing all captives in exchange for ending the war in Gaza.
Roya News
2 hours ago
- Roya News
New Hamas tactics against 'Israeli' soldiers in Gaza revealed
Hamas fighters in Gaza have 'shifted to a strategy of sacrifice, showing significantly more audacity and engaging in close combat' in an attempt to capture 'Israeli' soldiers, one senior official said, cited by Hebrew news outlet 'Israel Hayom'. As the military pushes deeper into urban areas of Gaza, the 'Israeli' military is concerned that Hamas' efforts could come to a fruition. After 21 months of war, the change in combat strategy came after the 'Israeli' military changed its approach after the latest ceasefire ended in March. Previously, it relied on short, targeted raids, but the military's goal now is to maintain a continuous presence in Gaza and its cities, the report adds. One recent incident happened last week, where Hamas fighters charged head-on an 'Israeli' soldier operating a bulldozer in the southern city of Khan Younis, killing him at close quarters after he abandoned the machinery. Hamas' military wing released a video of the incident, showing the fighters standing on top of the soldiers' lifeless body, after they took his firearms. Another recent incident happened in north Gaza's Beit Hanoun, where a planted IED killed at least five soldiers during night hours. Following the detonation, reports in Hebrew media said helicopters were deployed amid heavy gunfire as Hamas fighters charged the 'Israeli' soldiers to possibly carry out a kidnapping. The 'Israeli' military now instructs its troops to stay vigilant, but the issue poses a risk for military commanders. The army is now awaiting a decision from the government regarding the next phase of operations in Gaza, as the current operation, named 'Gideon's Chariots' is nearing its end.
Al Bawaba
4 hours ago
- Al Bawaba
Olivia Rodrigo speaks out for Palestine: The children in Gaza are starving
ALBAWABA - 22-year-old American singer Olivia Rodrigo recently went viral after breaking her silence on Gaza through Instagram. The star spoke out for the innocent Palestinians suffering due to the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip since Oct. 7, 2023. Her statement on Instagram stories was followed by a donation link calling for a fundraiser for the children in Gaza through the UN's international emergency fund. Rodrigo wrote, "There are no words to describe the heartbreak I feel witnessing the devastation that is being inflicted upon innocent people in Palestine. Mothers, fathers, and children in Gaza are starving, dehydrated, and being denied access to basic medical care and humanitarian aid." She added, "There is no child in Israel, Palestine, or anywhere in the world who deserves to suffer through what we're seeing these children have to endure. It is horrific and completely unacceptable. To give up on them is to give up on our shared humanity." Olivia Rodrigo urged her 39 million followers to donate to the UNICEF link "to help support the victims of this horrific situation." Additionally, Rodrigo revealed that she also donated to the cause. The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza has resulted in the killing of at least 57,800 Palestinians and the injuring of nearly 137,000, as reported by the health ministry in the Strip. Additionally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were issued an arrest warrant in November by the International Criminal Court for the crimes they committed in Gaza.
