Israel-Palestine Conflict Advances: Hamas Reports Ongoing Ceasefire Negotiations as Israel intensifies Land Incursion
Breaking: New Round of Gaza Truce Talks Underway Amidst Intensified Israeli Offensive
Israel and Hamas have reignited ceasefire negotiations in Qatar, despite the Israeli military escalating its ground attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip.
Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, announced on Saturday that Hamas delegates were back at the table, focusing on a hostage exchange agreement. The Israeli delegation, according to Katz, entered the negotiations with no preconditions.
Hamas advisor, Taher al-Nono, confirmed to Reuters that indirect talks had resumed, sans any conditions. He added that Hamas had presented their stance, emphasizing an end to the conflict, swapping prisoners, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the influx of humanitarian aid.
Medical sources told Al Jazeera that over 70 Palestinians were killed in Saturday's Israeli attacks, initiating a fresh offensive in Gaza. Israel's army assaults are reportedly intensifying, targeting Hamas across the region, promising to persist until captives are rescued and the armed group dismantled.
This offensive follows three days of escalated Israeli air attacks, leaving hundreds of Palestinians dead and many more injured, mainly in Beit Lahiya and Jabalia - areas issued forced displacement orders by the Israeli army in recent days.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Arab League convened in Iraq's Baghdad for a Gaza-focused summit, advocating for international funding to rebuild Gaza. Hamas implored the international community to impose sanctions on Israel, viewing the current crisis as a full-blown genocide.
Despite ongoing talks, Israel's offensive continues, leading to escalating casualties and raising concerns about the already-dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the prospect of a long-term ceasefire.
World leaders, including UN chief Antonio Guterres, have expressed alarm over Israel's expanded assault in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire. The UN relief chief, Tom Fletcher, noted that over 160,000 pallets of aid remain blocked at the border due to Israeli restrictions, while the US and Israel debate replacing international aid mechanisms in Gaza.
Germany has voiced deep concern over Israel's military actions, fearing further complications for both the Palestinian population and any prospect of a lasting ceasefire.
[1] Jorgensen, J. S. (2021, May 15). U.S. presents new proposal for Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal. Al Jazeera. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/15/us-presents-new-proposal-for-gaza-ceasefire-hostage-deal
[2] Said-Gutman, N. (2021, May 15). Hamas Requests Guarantees Israel Will Not Resume Hostilities After Ceasefire. Haaretz. Retrieved from https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/hamas-demands-guarantees-israel-not-resume-hostilities-after-gaza-ceasefire-1.9962361
[3] Liu, C. (2021, May 15). Dozens killed as Israel intensifies Gaza attacks. Al Jazeera. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/15/dozens-killed-as-israel-intensifies-gaza-attacks
- Amidst the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Gaza, politics surrounding a potential truce have become increasingly complex, as both Israel and Hamas engage in ceasefire negotiations.
- The breaking news of a new round of truce talks in Qatar comes amidst escalating general-news reports of intensified Israeli offensive, resulting in high casualty counts and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
