Hamas announced on Thursday that it is willing to reach a “complete agreement” with Israel if it halts its military operations in Gaza. This statement was released as Israel continued its offensive on Rafah, a southern Gaza city, despite an International Court of Justice (ICJ) order to cease the attacks.
Hamas’ Stance
Hamas stated its position through a statement indicating that it would refrain from participating in further negotiations during the current aggression. However, it expressed readiness to engage in a “complete agreement” that would encompass a comprehensive exchange of hostages and prisoners if Israel stops its war on Gaza. The statement read, “Hamas and the Palestinian factions will not accept to be part of this policy by continuing (ceasefire) negotiations in light of the aggression, siege, starvation and genocide of our people.”
Hamas conveyed this stance to mediators, including Egypt and Qatar, who have been involved in efforts to broker a ceasefire. Talks have repeatedly been in vain, with both parties blaming each other for the lack of progress.
Offensive in Rafah
Despite the ICJ’s directive, Israel has continued its military campaign in Rafah. Israeli tanks entered the heart of Rafah for the first time on Tuesday, aiming to rescue hostages and eradicate Hamas fighters.
“Hamas has been holding our hostages in Rafah, which is why our forces are operating in Rafah. Hamas is holding our hostages in living hell across our border in Gaza, including in Rafah. We will not stop fighting for their freedom.”
🔴Watch the full statement by IDF Spokesperson… pic.twitter.com/QkdyjgyVBQ
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 30, 2024
Israeli officials maintain that their offensive is necessary to dismantle Hamas, which they view as a group committed to Israel’s destruction. The offensive has resulted in many casualties, with over 35 Palestinians killed and many more injured in recent strikes on Rafah, according to Palestinian health and civil emergency service workers.
Humanitarian Crisis
The conflict began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on October 7 last year. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with displaced populations facing severe shortages of food, water and medical supplies.
The United Nations and various agencies have warned of an impending famine in Gaza, as the flow of aid has been severely disrupted. Malnutrition is becoming increasingly common, with children particularly affected. Al Jazeera reported from Deir ul-Balah that Gaza’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse, with no medical supplies entering the region for three weeks.
Mediation
The United States, while expressing opposition to a major ground offensive in Rafah, has not seen the current operations as a cause of change in its policy towards Israel.
In previous rounds of negotiations, some progress was made, such as the release of about 100 captives in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails in November. However, subsequent talks have stalled, with significant points of contention remaining unresolved. Hamas has insisted on conditions including a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the return of displaced families.
Israel’s Response
Israel has dismissed previous offers from Hamas as insufficient and remains focused on its military objectives in Rafah. The Israeli government has also lifted a ban on the sale of food to Gaza from Israel and the occupied West Bank, a potential attempt to mitigate the humanitarian crisis. However, the volume of aid entering Gaza is still far below the levels needed to address the severe shortages faced by the population.
Death Toll
According to latest figures, the death toll of the Israel-Gaza War since 7 October, 2023 stands at 36743 people killed in Palestine and 1139 in Israel. Of the former, at least 519 people have been killed in the Occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
