ALBAWABA - A high-profile Israeli delegation has landed in Qatar to finalize the final touches on the anticipated ceasefire deal in Gaza, as negotiators hope to finalize the deal before the holy month of Ramadan.
The participation of both sides indicated that talks were further forward than at any time since a major push at the beginning of February when Israel rejected a Hamas proposal as "delusional".
In public, both sides continue to blame one another. Israel has stated that it will only agree to a limited pause in fighting to guarantee the release of hostages. Hamas has stated that they would not be freed till the war is permanently ceased.
After meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh stated the party supported mediators' attempts to end the war and accused Israel of procrastinating while Gazans died under blockade. "We will not allow the enemy to use negotiations as a cover for this crime," he told reporters.
Senior Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri stated that any ceasefire agreement would entail "securing an end to the aggression, the withdrawal of the occupation, the return of the displaced, the entry of aid, shelter equipment, and rebuilding".
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was open to a compromise and it was up to Hamas to remove demands he described as "outlandish" and "from another planet".
Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
Hamas military group announced on Oct. 7 a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel which is the biggest offensive in decades.
Palestinian fighters “infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip and captured military bases and took hostages as photos and videos went viral online showing Hamas fighters on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into occupation territory.
In response, Israeli armed forces announced targeting Hamas positions inside the Gaza Strip. Thousands were killed, and dozens of thousands of others were injured in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
The latest statistics by the Ministry of Health in Gaza revealed that the death toll from Israeli brutal pounding on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has soared to 29,782 people, with more than 70,043 injuries.
Since then, approximately 85% of Gazans have been displaced, all of whom are suffering from severe food insecurity, and the healthcare system has collapsed. Hundreds of thousands of people lack shelter, and aid trucks are entering the area at a lower rate than before the conflict began.
