Gaza: Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Saturday called Gaza cease-fire proposals a ‘smokescreen’ as they do not include an end to the Israeli war or withdrawal from the enclave. Senior Hamas member Izzat al-Rishq stated that the proposals floated in recent days fail to address the cessation of the Israeli assault, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, or the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes.
According to Anadolu Agency, Rishq accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using the negotiations as a cover to continue his aggression. He highlighted the ongoing dynamics between the occupation and the US administration, likening the situation in Lebanon to that in Gaza. Hamas recently announced its engagement with mediators to discuss new cease-fire proposals and a potential hostage swap deal with Israel.
Efforts at mediation led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar have not yet resulted in a cease-fire in Gaza. However, Washington remains hopeful that Israel’s actions, including the kil
ling of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on October 18, might lead to a breakthrough. Despite these efforts, Hamas insists that the conflict will persist until Israel halts its military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 43,300 people since October 2023. The Israeli offensive has caused the displacement of nearly the entire population of the territory and has exacerbated shortages of essential resources such as food, clean water, and medicine. Additionally, Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.