Gaza City: The Palestinian resistance group Hamas declared on Monday that Israel's threats to resume military action in Gaza are ineffective and will not succeed in altering the current situation. "We affirm our full commitment to the ceasefire agreement, and to implementing what was agreed upon," Hamas stated, emphasizing their readiness to initiate negotiations for the second phase. The group accused Israel of reneging on the agreement and delaying the transition to the next phase, suggesting ulterior motives behind these actions.
According to Anadolu Agency, the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement concluded in early March. However, Israel has not yet agreed to advance to the second phase or cease hostilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is allegedly seeking to prolong the initial phase to secure the release of more Israeli captives without honoring military or humanitarian commitments specified in the agreement, a move purportedly aimed at satisfying hardliners within his government.
Hamas firmly opposes this approach, demanding that Israel adhere to the terms of the ceasefire and urging mediators to facilitate immediate discussions on the second phase. This phase involves a complete Israeli withdrawal and an end to the conflict. Hamas accused Netanyahu of obstructing the agreement's implementation for personal and political reasons, disregarding the plight of captives and their families.
The group underscored that the ceasefire deal, which was brokered by mediators and witnessed globally, necessitates Israel's compliance as the sole means to secure the captives' release. Hamas declared that Israeli threats and coercive tactics would be ineffective, insisting that negotiations and adherence to the agreement are imperative, warning that any deviation risks the captives' safety.
In a recent act of escalation, Israel cut off electricity to Gaza on Sunday, intensifying the blockade despite the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. This followed a prior decision to halt humanitarian aid to Gaza, raising alarms from local and international human rights organizations about the potential resurgence of widespread hunger among Palestinians.
The ceasefire, in effect since January, paused Israel's devastating war on Gaza, which has resulted in nearly 48,500 deaths, predominantly affecting women and children, and left the region devastated. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.