The latest round of Gaza cease-fire negotiations concluded in Cairo after “in-depth and serious discussions”, the militant group Hamas announced on Sunday, reiterating key demands that Israel had rejected again. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas did not take the deal seriously and warned there would be a “strong operation in the very near future in Rafah and other places throughout Gaza.” € , reports AP, quoted by News.ro.
Israel closed its main crossing point for the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza after Hamas attacked it. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas did not take the deal seriously and warned there would be a “strong operation in the very near future in Rafah and elsewhere throughout Gaza.” €.
Israel did not send a delegation to the talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar. Egyptian state media reported that the Hamas delegation went to Qatar for talks, where the group has a political office, and will return to Cairo on March for further negotiations.
Another threat to the talks came when Israel ordered the closure of the local offices of Al Jazeera television in Qatar, accusing it of broadcasting anti-Israel incitement. The ban does not appear to have affected the channel’s operations in Gaza or the West Bank.
Netanyahu, under pressure from hardliners in his government, continued to play down expectations of a ceasefire deal, describing as “extreme” Hamas’ main demands – including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the cessation of war. This would amount to a capitulation after the October 7 Hamas attack that sparked the fighting, he said.
Ismail Haniyeh says that stopping the Israeli aggression in Gaza is the main priority
In an earlier statement, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the militant group is serious and positive about negotiations and that stopping Israeli aggression in Gaza is the top priority.
But the Israeli government vowed again to continue the military operation in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city on the border with Egypt, where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents live. they are now sheltering from Israeli attacks. Rafah is a key entry point for aid.
Kerem Shalom, now closed, is another entry point. The Israeli military reported that 10 projectiles were fired at the crossing in southern Israel and said its warplanes later hit the source. Hamas stated that it protected the Israeli soldiers in the area. The Israeli television channel Channel 12 announced that 10 people were injured, three of them seriously.
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, called for an independent investigation and “accountability for the flagrant carelessness of humanitarian workers”. He also said that Israel refused him entry into Gaza for the second time this week.
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