Doha: A Hamas official on Thursday accused Israel of carrying out incursions in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah to block talks seeking a truce in the seven-month-long Israeli bombardment in the Palestinian territory.
Israel’s recent deployment of tanks into Rafah, a densely populated area near the Egyptian border, has drawn condemnation from international quarters. The Israeli military seized control of a key crossing point early on Tuesday, disrupting the flow of vital aid into the besieged enclave.
Ezzat al-Rishq, a spokesperson for Hamas, asserted that Israel’s military operations in Rafah, particularly its control over the border crossing, are designed to thwart the efforts of mediators seeking to facilitate dialogue between the warring parties. Despite these challenges, al-Rishq affirmed the Palestinian group’s commitment to considering ceasefire proposals put forth by mediators. Hamas, however, was still committed to “accepting the (ceasefire) proposal presented by the mediators”, he said.
Reports indicate that a Palestinian group delegation, dispatched to engage in talks in Cairo, has left the negotiating table and is en route back to the Qatari capital of Doha. Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been actively involved in mediating discussions between Israel and the Palestinian group, with the aim of reaching a sustainable ceasefire agreement.
According to Al-Qahera News, a media outlet linked to Egyptian intelligence, talks involving Qatari, US, and Palestinian group delegations are ongoing in Cairo. The report suggests that other Palestinian groups, including Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, are also participating in the negotiations and are receptive to the prospect of reaching a ceasefire accord.
