In a televised address on Wednesday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh declared a newfound flexibility in the group’s negotiations with Israel over the Gaza war while affirming their preparedness to continue the fight.
Haniyeh urged Palestinians in Jerusalem and the West Bank to march to Al-Aqsa Mosque on March 10, the first day of Ramadan, escalating the stakes in the indirect talks for a truce deal.
Israel, on Monday, announced its permission for Ramadan prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque but imposed security-related limits, potentially setting the stage for clashes if large crowds gather.
US President Joe Biden expressed hope for a Gaza ceasefire agreement by March 4, following ongoing negotiations in Qatar focused on both the conflict and the release of hostages.
In his address, Haniyeh called upon the Axis of Resistance, comprising Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, as well as Arab states, to enhance their support for Palestinians in Gaza. He emphasized the responsibility of Arab and Islamic nations to break what Palestinians claim is a deliberate Israeli policy to deny them food.
While Israel asserts that its Gaza blockade is crucial to neutralize Hamas, which it views as an existential threat since the October 7 attacks, it acknowledges allowing aid. However, blame for shortages leading to acute hunger is traded between Israel and aid agencies.
