After the peace negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Cairo seemed to end in a fizzle, and just as Israel is in full preparation for an offensive on the city of Rafah – where Palestinian civilians are being urged to leave – Hamas informed Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Monday evening that it accepts their proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The news spread like wildfire, and was also greeted with cheers and dancing in the Gaza Strip. For a moment the weapons seemed to be allowed to rest, for the first time since the break in fighting from November 24 to 30 last year. But it soon became clear that the proposal that Hamas agreed to was not the same proposal that Israel had previously given the green light to.
Games and tricks
The exact terms of the ceasefire have not been officially announced. However, Hamas official Taher al-Nono told Reuters that the deal includes a ceasefire, reconstruction of Gaza, the return of displaced civilians and a prisoner exchange. The agreement would also consist of three phases, each lasting 42 days. In the first phase, the ceasefire would begin along with an Israeli withdrawal from the so-called ‘Netzarim corridor’, a passage through which Israel separates North from South Gaza. The second phase would involve the permanent cessation of military operations and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The third phase would end the blockade of Gaza.
An anonymous Israeli official told Reuters that Hamas has accepted a “watered down” proposal that is not acceptable to Israel. “This appears to be a ruse designed to frame Israel as the party refusing a deal,” the Israeli source said. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, one of the most radical members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, also spoke of “games and tricks.” The only way to end it, according to Ben Gvir, is an “immediate order to capture Rafah, increase military pressure and crush Hamas.” It is known that a complete withdrawal has been unacceptable for Israel in recent times, as it would not allow the country to achieve its ultimate goal of destroying Hamas.
At just before half past nine (Belgian time) there was an official reception from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office. According to a statement, Hamas’ latest ceasefire offer is “far removed from Israel’s demands.” Israel’s War Cabinet has unanimously decided to proceed with an operation in Rafah “to exert military pressure on Hamas, with the aim of making progress in the liberation of the hostages and other war objectives,” the cabinet said.
At least twelve dead
Witnesses and Palestinian security sources described how Rafah was the scene of very intense attacks during the night from Monday to Tuesday. The Israeli army announced it was carrying out bombings in the east of the city, but claimed it was hitting Hamas targets.
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The Israeli attacks killed at least 12 people in Rafah overnight, according to Palestinian media. An Israeli attack on a house in eastern Rafah killed four people, the Palestinian Information Center reported. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the Israeli army killed five people by bombing a house in western Rafah. A local hospital confirmed that the bodies of five dead were brought in. The Israeli army also killed at least three people, including a child, when it hit another house in western Rafah.
Hamas broadcaster also reported that Israeli tanks shelled the Kerem Shalom border crossing, close to Rafah, two hundred meters away. According to several media reports, Israeli troops then advanced to the border crossing. Israeli journalist Barak Ravid said the Israeli army was planning to take control of the Palestinian side of the border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. Sources in Egypt and within Hamas said that the Israelis informed Egypt that they would withdraw when their “limited operation” ends.
The armed wing of the radical Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, meanwhile, fired rockets from Gaza into southern Israel, it announced. “We targeted Sderot, Nir Am and sites near Gaza.” Israel was able to intercept two rockets towards Sderot, a third landed in an empty area.
Negotiate further
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday that a ground offensive in Rafah is “unacceptable”. He called on Israel and Hamas to make greater efforts to reach an agreement.
Israel is already sending a team of negotiators to Cairo to continue mediation talks and negotiate a deal that does meet Israel’s requirements. The Qatari Foreign Ministry also announced that it will send a delegation to the Egyptian capital Cairo on Tuesday morning for further negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
In a press release, Hamas said it is sticking to its demands included in the proposal that the Palestinian radical group approved on Monday.