Hamas Official Dampens Hopes of Immediate Ceasefire Deal with Israel
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, hopes for an immediate ceasefire deal have been dampened by a senior official from the Palestinian group Hamas. Basem Naim, the head of political and international relations for Hamas, stated that there is still a long way to go before an agreement can be secured. While negotiations have gathered pace and United States President Joe Biden expressed his desire for a ceasefire by next Monday, Naim believes that the optimistic posture of the Biden administration is more related to domestic political considerations in a US election year rather than the reality on the ground.
Naim criticized the US for its double standards, stating that while they talk about achieving a ceasefire and stopping the aggression, they continue to support Israel with financial aid and ammunition. He called for an end to this game of double standards and urged the US to take a more balanced approach.
Hamas has not yet received an official truce proposal but is working with mediators to establish one. Naim emphasized that while Hamas is willing to be flexible on certain aspects of a potential deal, it will not compromise on its main strategic goals. These goals include a final and total ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and freedom of movement for Palestinians within Gaza.
Regarding the exchange of prisoners and plans for Gaza’s reconstruction, Naim stated that there is some space for flexibility. He highlighted the urgency of achieving a ceasefire to prevent further civilian casualties and suffering. Naim emphasized that people in the northern part of Gaza are dying due to starvation, and Hamas understands the gravity of the situation as their own families are still there.
Hamas is seeking guarantors such as Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, the United Nations, the US, and Russia to ensure that any deal reached is upheld by Israel. The group is also ready to continue fighting if necessary, even if it shows flexibility in its negotiations. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh called on the “axis of resistance,” a political and military coalition led by Iran, to provide increased support to Gaza through political leverage, financial aid, and weapons.
Haniyeh condemned Israel for committing what he described as the worst atrocities known to humanity, including the extermination and displacement of civilians. He called for Palestinians to march on Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on the first day of Ramadan in protest against the continued restrictions imposed by Israel on access to the holy site. Haniyeh emphasized that the siege of Al-Aqsa and the siege of Gaza are interconnected.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has resulted in a significant loss of life, with nearly 30,000 people killed since October 7. The majority of the casualties are women and children, and most of the population in Gaza has been displaced. As Israel threatens a ground invasion in the city of Rafah on the border with Egypt, around 1.5 million people are seeking shelter there.
The road to a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas remains challenging, with both sides holding firm to their demands. The international community continues to exert pressure for a resolution to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire. As negotiations continue, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for a breakthrough that will bring an end to this devastating conflict.
