Israel's Deliberate Obstruction of Truce Talks
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan decried that all the U.S. and Israel want is a temporary truce and that they reject a permanent cessation of hostilities. He told the news agency Al Mayadeen that any negotiations not reaching their goal "will not continue," pointing out that the Israeli occupation wants to "catch its breath and worsen the humanitarian crisis" in the Gaza Strip. Touching on aid to the Gaza Strip, he highlighted that all the air-dropped aid does not exceed the load of two trucks, pointing out that the U.S. is taking part in the siege on Gaza.
Another Hamas official involved in negotiations said that "We are awaiting the final official response from the enemy [Israel]. The initial responses do not meet the minimum requirements related to the permanent cessation of hostilities. We will not compromise on that which ensures the safety of our people." Hamas insists on the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of the displaced and the entry of humanitarian aid and the beginning of reconstruction in the besieged territory. Another Hamas official, Mahmoud Mardawi, said the fate of negotiations now rests upon the United States, Israel's great benefactor. "If Israel is serious and does not procrastinate, it is possible to reach a ceasefire before the start of Ramadan." The Hamas delegation left Cairo on March 7 for consultation with the leadership of the movement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to declare the Rafah invasion by ground forces will take place. "Whoever tells us not to operate in Rafah is telling us to lose the war and that will not happen," Netanyahu said. He noted that he is facing international pressure not to attack Rafah, but stressed that Israel will stand up to the pressure and keep up the war on Gaza until full victory against Hamas.
Israel also informed the U.S. and other countries which support it that "a political settlement with Lebanon" must be reached by March 15 after which it plans to "escalate military operations to a broad war." The information comes from "western diplomats that spoke with the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar."
This article was published in
Volume 54
Number 17 - March 12, 2024
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2024/Articles/MS54173.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca