Gaza: The Palestinian resistance groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad announced on Sunday that any indirect negotiations with Israel must lead to a complete end to the war in Gaza, a full Israeli withdrawal, the reopening of border crossings, and the reconstruction of the war-torn enclave. The comments came after a meeting between delegations from both groups, as per a statement by Hamas. The location of these discussions was not revealed.
According to Anadolu Agency, the groups reviewed the 'massive sacrifices and ongoing humanitarian suffering' resulting from the 'genocidal war, starvation, and daily massacres committed by the Israeli enemy.' The discussions also focused on the status of current negotiations in Doha, emphasizing that any resolution should lead to ending the conflict, ensuring Israeli withdrawal, reopening crossings, and initiating reconstruction efforts.
The groups evaluated Israel's responses to mediation proposals aimed at achieving a ceasefire and explored potential strategies for addressing those responses, as stated by Hamas. The latest round of indirect negotiations is ongoing in Doha, involving Hamas and Israeli delegations, with mediation by Qatar and Egypt and participation from the US.
Hamas announced on Wednesday its agreement to release 10 living Israeli captives as a gesture of "flexibility" to reach a ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement. However, Israel remains steadfast on key issues, including its withdrawal from Gaza. Conversely, Israel demands a buffer zone 2 to 3 kilometers wide in the Rafah area and 1 to 2 kilometers in other border regions.
Despite international calls for a ceasefire, Israel has continued its offensive on Gaza since late October 2023, resulting in over 58,000 Palestinian deaths, primarily women and children. The continuous bombardment has devastated the enclave, leading to food shortages and disease spread.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.