Despite assurances from mediators (Egypt, Qatar, and the US) that work is ongoing behind the scenes to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and agree on a deal to exchange prisoners between Israel and Hamas, recent statements from the latter have dampened hopes, especially with the continuation of Israeli incursions into the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, stated in an interview with “Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath” last night that the movement has informed the mediators “not to negotiate while the Rafah operation continues.”
He also considered that “Israel is heading towards genocide, not negotiations.”
These statements come as the mediators seek to reach an initial ceasefire lasting six weeks, during which Hamas would release around 20 Israeli prisoners alive, along with an unspecified number of Israelis who died while in captivity inside Gaza since October 7th last year.
Following this initial agreement, there is a possibility of a ceasefire lasting up to one year and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as reported by The New York Times quoting Arab mediators.
The mediators also clarified that communication has been made with Hamas but it has not yet agreed to participate, especially as it has affirmed that Israel is not serious about reaching an agreement.
Previous ceasefire talks largely failed, with Tel Aviv refusing to include any permanent ceasefire agreement.
Hamas also faces a major challenge in delivering a sufficient number of prisoners, as it does not hold all those captured in October last year, with some prisoners held by other Palestinian factions.
Israel’s expansion into the densely populated city of Rafah, which has been crowded with displaced people since the beginning of this month (May 2024), has complicated efforts to resume negotiations between the two sides, especially after the deadly strike targeting the Peace Camp in al-Mawasi last Sunday, which Israel considered a safe area, urging Palestinians to seek refuge there.
