‘Cover for political agenda’: Hamas rejects Israel’s truce proposal as Gaza air strikes kill 40 in camps for displaced civilians
Palestinians look on during the handover by Hamas of deceased hostages, identified at the time by Palestinian militant groups as Oded Lifschitz, Shiri Bibas and her two children Kfir and Ariel Bibas, seized during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, to the Red Cross. — Reuters pic
Friday, 18 Apr 2025 9:10 AM MYT
GAZA CITY, April 18 — Hamas yesterday signalled its rejection of Israel’s latest truce proposal and called for a “comprehensive” deal to end the 18-month-long war.
The Palestinian militants’ chief negotiator spoke out after civil defence rescuers in Gaza said new Israeli air strikes killed at least 40 people, most of them in camps for displaced civilians, as Israel pressed its offensive in the Palestinian territory.
The Israeli military said it was looking into reports of the strikes.
A Hamas source told AFP that the group sent a written response Thursday to mediators on Israel’s latest proposal for a 45-day ceasefire. Israel had wanted the release of 10 living hostages held by the group, according to Hamas.
It also called for the freeing of 1,231 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been under complete blockade since March 2.
The proposal called for Hamas to disarm to secure a complete end to the war, a demand the group rejects.
“Partial agreements are used by (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu as a cover for his political agenda... we will not be complicit in this policy,” Hamas’s chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said in a televised statement.
He said Hamas “seeks a comprehensive deal involving a single-package prisoner exchange in return for halting the war, a withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip, and the commencement of reconstruction” in the territory.
A previous ceasefire and hostage release deal began on January 19 but collapsed two months later.
Israel offered to extend the first phase, while Hamas insisted that negotiations be held for a second phase, as outlined by Joe Biden when he was US president.
Israel resumed intensive bombing of Gaza on March 18.
Qatar blames Israel
The emir of Qatar, which with Egypt and the United States helped mediate the January ceasefire, blamed Israel on Thursday for its collapse.
“As you know, we reached an agreement months ago, but unfortunately Israel did not abide by this agreement,” Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani said during a visit to Moscow.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said two Israeli missiles hit tents in the Al-Mawasi area of the southern city of Khan Yunis, killing at least 16 people, “most of them women and children, and 23 others were wounded”.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians flocked to Al-Mawasi after Israel declared it a safe zone in December 2023. But the area has since been hit by repeated Israeli strikes.
Survivors described a large explosion at the densely packed camp that set tents ablaze.
“We were sitting peacefully in the tent, under God’s protection, when we suddenly saw something red glowing — and then the tent exploded, and the surrounding tents caught fire,” Israa Abu al-Rus told AFP.
Bassal said Israeli strikes on two other camps for displaced Gazans killed a nine people — seven in the northern town of Beit Lahia, and a father and son near Al-Mawasi.
Separately, the civil defence reported two attacks in Jabalia — one that killed at least seven members of the Asaliya family, and another that killed six people at a school being used as a shelter — as well as Israeli shelling in Gaza City that killed two.
The military announced it had carried out a strike in Jabalia on a Hamas “command and control” centre.
Israel said Wednesday that it had converted 30 percent of Gaza into a buffer zone in its widening offensive.
The United Nations said half a million Palestinians have been displaced since the offensive resumed, triggering what it has described as the most severe humanitarian crisis since the war began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Red Cross base
Hamas accused Israel of attempting to starve Gaza’s 2.4 million people after Defence Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that Israel would continue preventing aid from entering the territory.
“This is a public admission of committing a war crime,” the group said in a statement.
Medical supplies, fuel, water and other essentials are in short supply, the UN says.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, said it was “outraged” that an explosive hit one of its bases in Gaza on Wednesday, the second such strike in three weeks.
Israel’s renewed assault has killed at least 1,691 people in Gaza, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory reported, bringing the overall toll since the war erupted to 51,065, most of them civilians.
Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. — AFP
Those who dream of a Palestinian state with no Jews better think again. Which model state will they follow? Syria? Lebanon? Afghanistan? Iran? There is no democratic country in the ME, save Israel. Where women are not discriminated, where minorities and LGBT are not harassed and stoned. Where women and girls can’t go to school or go out alone. That is Afghanistan today, after Young Bully pulled out as requested. Now nobody help the poor Afghans under Taliban rule. Everybody Happy Now?
ReplyDeleteThe only way a war ends is when one side surrenders. Not ceasefire, not truce, not armistice. That is why WW2 started, because Germany did not surrender to end WW1. It was only an armistice signed in 1919, a one-sided one according to many Germans and exploited by Hitler. In fact when the armistice was signed the German soldiers were advanced and fighting on foreign land, in France and Belgium. They were actually winning territory. Hence there was actually only ONE WW, with a 20-year armistice. The Korean War has not ended either. Only an armistice was signed in 1953. It will only end when Rocket Man surrenders. Meanwhile there is a 72-year armistice, and counting.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly the Gaza war will only end when the side getting obliterated surrenders. Not truce, not ceasefire. Netanyahu understands this. He wants to end the war permanently. How can you live with a neighbour whose religious covenant is to kill you? The two state solution will never work when one side has sworn an oath with his God to murder you. Wake Up. Read the their 1988 Covenant:
“Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it"
Who in his right mind will invite this person to live in the same house as a room-mate?
Who is sacrificing civilian Palestinian lives for their political agenda. Lay down your arms, surrender unconditionally and free all hostages, like the Nazis laid down arms, surrender unconditionally and freed all death camp prisoners.
ReplyDeleteNote: for their political agenda refer to their 1988 Covenant.
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/Hamas.asp
Walau-eh, all guns blazing with zionist farts of excuses & persuasion!
ReplyDeleteWakakakaka… 72-year armistice, and counting. & soon there will be no more with ALL 井蛙 removed/exterminated completely from that island.
WWI - Germany did not surrender to end WW1. It was only an armistice signed in 1919. Likening to all yr other parts of inconsequential, then WHY was it later became the basis of the German surrender at the Paris Peace Conference?
Similarly the Gaza war will only end when the side getting obliterated surrenders. So, who has been obliterated completely?
Mfer, early days yet.When the Yank&pommie couldn't supply military HW to the zionist state & the Palestine miraculously obtaining more advanced weaponry, only then u fart about who is winning!
Mfer, if u want to mentioned the Hamas political agenda detailed in their 1988 Covenant, then an eye for an eye, u should also mention the zionist state political standings since their treacherous findings!
Don't be selective. Yr farts would sell.
Waiting to see what will happen...
ReplyDelete~~~~~
https://t.me/GoBPH/5758
https://www.reuters.com/world/saudi-arabia-us-pathway-civil-nuclear-agreement-us-energy-secretary-says-2025-04-13/
It would appear that the very thing that I have been speculating may happen is coming to pass, as I suspect that this deal with Saudi Arabia will be part of the new Iran Nuclear Deal.
According to the article, quoting U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the Saudis are expected to sign specific type of agreement.
"For a U.S. partnership and involvement in nuclear here, there will definitely be a 123 agreement ... there's lots of ways to structure a deal that will accomplish both the Saudi objectives and the American objectives," he said.
A so-called 123 agreement with Riyadh refers to Section 123 of the U.S. Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and is required to permit the U.S. government and American companies to work with entities in the kingdom to develop a civil nuclear industry.
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 was signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower, and it is worth noting that on the day before President John Kennedy was sworn into office, vacating President Eisenhower warned JFK that the greatest threat he would face as POTUS would be an illegal nuclear weapons program in Israel — who to this day, have not signed any nuclear treaty with the United States, which would require them to comply with our laws and allow US inspectors to thoroughly inspect any sites they have where nuclear materials are being handled. (Something that JFK tried, in vain, to do in 1963.)
The reason that Israel has never signed a nuclear treaty with the US is because it would require them to surrender the 200+ nuclear warheads they have long been accused of possessing — which they stole from the United States. Because of this, Israel is also unable to develop a nuclear power plant, which would give them much more energy than they currently produce.
What we may see is both Saudi Arabia and Iran sign such nuclear treaties, empowering them to build (or expand, in the case of Iran) nuclear power plants, which will be necessary if they are going to lead their respective nations into the oncoming Golden Age. We could actually see Israel fall behind in the energy race, and become a comparatively primitive society — despite its enormous tech industry (much of which isn't even physically based in Israel).
It will all come down to whether Netanyahu wants to keep his nuclear weapons — which you know he will. We could see the whole "illegal nuclear weapons" debate flip and go from being about Iran to being about Israel, which seems far more likely to actually use said weapons at this point in time.
What will Netanyahu do if he feels backed into a corner?
There are only two possible outcomes to the war.
ReplyDeleteEither Hamas is defeated or Israel is defeated.
Israel sure isn't going to accept defeat.
Neither would Hamas!
Delete