Gaza Conflict: Shortly after Hamas announced on Monday that it was agreeing to a truce offer put forth by mediators from Egypt and Qatar, Israel stated that no ceasefire had been reached regarding the situation in Gaza. According to a Reuters report citing an Israeli official, Hamas had accepted a modified version of Egypt’s proposal, which contained “significant” conclusions that Israel could not accept. The unnamed official was quoted as saying in the report that this seemed to be a tactic aimed at portraying Israel as the party rejecting a deal.
Earlier in the day, as reported by Reuters, Hamas declared that it had accepted a ceasefire proposal from Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The group stated in a statement that its leader, Ismail Haniyeh, had informed the Prime Minister of Qatar and Egypt’s intelligence chief of their acceptance of the proposal. No further details about the agreement were provided.
READ | Israel Shuts Down Al Jazeera Operations
The IDF states : Israel will persist in operating in a manner deemed necessary in Gaza.
Israel’s actions in Gaza will persist in an “operational manner,” according to a spokesperson from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), as reported by The Guardian. Despite Hamas stating that it has accepted the ceasefire agreement, Israel remains committed to its operational activities. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, when asked about the impact of the ceasefire announcement, stated that Israel is diligently exploring all information received.
He emphasized that their primary mission is to bring back the hostages as quickly as possible, but in parallel, they will continue to operate in Gaza. During a media briefing, Hagari emphasized that Israeli officials are meticulously considering every response and answer, leaving no possibility unexplored in negotiations and the return of hostages. The announcement from Hamas accepting the ceasefire came shortly after Israel issued an evacuation order for parts of Rafah, where approximately half of Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million residents reside. Israel has implemented a 90-day plan.
