The Palestinian militia Hamas called on mediators in the Gaza Strip on Sunday to present a ceasefire plan based on previous negotiations instead of starting new talks. It said that the mediators should then “force” Israel to give in without further talks.
Both Israel and Hamas are under pressure from the US, Egypt and Qatar to meet for new talks to finalise a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage release. The summit is scheduled for Thursday in either Cairo or Doha.
Israel announced its participation, while Hamas initially said it was examining the offer.
The demand comes a day after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed scores of people at a school housing displaced Palestinians.
What did Hamas say on Sunday?
In a statement, Hamas set a condition for its participation in the talks: it wanted the plan presented by US President Joe Biden in May to be implemented. The proposals were later approved by the UN Security Council.
Hamas “demands that the mediators present a plan to implement their proposals to the movement … based on Biden’s vision and the UN Security Council resolution, and that they force the (Israeli) occupation to comply,” it said.
“The mediators should impose this on the occupying power (Israel) instead of seeking further rounds of negotiations or new proposals that would provide cover for the occupying power’s aggression and give it more time to continue its genocide against our people,” the statement said.
What is the ceasefire plan supported by Biden?
Biden had described the plan as a three-stage “roadmap for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages” and said it was an Israeli proposal.
The first phase includes a six-week “complete and comprehensive ceasefire,” Biden said. Under this ceasefire, Israeli forces would withdraw from “all populated areas of the Gaza Strip” and release some hostages in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
In a second phase, the remaining hostages would be released while both sides negotiate “a permanent end to hostilities,” the US president said.
The third phase would include “a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Gaza” and the return of the remains of the killed hostages.
Mediation efforts since the plan was first presented have not led to an agreement.
Israel expands evacuation of Khan Younis
As the war rages on, Israel expanded its evacuation orders to a larger area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday night.
The orders affected districts in the centre, east and west, making them one of the most extensive in the ten-month conflict.
This move forced tens of thousands of residents and homeless families to leave their homes and shelters in the dark.
The armed wing of the Islamic Jihad group said its fighters fired mortar shells at Israeli forces gathering in the eastern areas of Khan Younis.
Later Sunday, an Israeli airstrike near the central Khan Younis market killed four Palestinians and wounded several others, medics said.
Israel launched its attack on Gaza after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7. According to Israeli sources, it killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 250 others hostage.
More than 110 hostages are still being held in Gaza, including 39 who the Israeli military says are dead.
According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, nearly 40,000 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union, among others.
mm/jsi (AFP, Reuters)
