Hamas bolster fragile hopes for peace in Gaza
has said it will respond to Israel’s latest counterproposal for a Gaza ceasefire today in Egypt, sparking hopes for a fragile peace in Gaza.
The Hamas announcement comes after reports claimed Israel is willing to discuss the ““restoration of sustainable calm” n Gaza after hostages are released.
However, Palestinian president,mahmoudabbas,saidhe expects Israel’s long-anticipated assault on the Gazan city of Rafah to occur “in the coming few days”, warning that only the US has the power to stop Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi, former speaker of the US House of Representatives, said Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, “couldn’t have done things worse” with regard to the Israel-hamas conflict.
Mr Abbas called on the US to ask Israel to abandon plans for the Rafah attack.
“America is the only country able to prevent Israel from committing this crime,” Mr Abbas told a special meeting of the World Economic Forum.
“What will happen in the coming few days is what Israel will do with attacking Rafah because all the Palestinians from Gaza are gathered there.”
He said even a “small strike” on Gaza could force people to flee.
Mr Netanyahu believes four brigades of Hamas fighters are hiding in Rafah. He has vowed to stamp out the group, which was behind the 7 October attacks, which killed over 1,000 Israelis.
Initially a safe haven for peohamas ple from northern Gaza, where people were told to evacuate early in the conflict ahead of Israeli bombardments, the city is now home to around 1.3 million people – more than half of Gaza’s population. Its population before the conflict began was just 250,000.
Most of the residents are living in temporary structures such as tents and aid organisations have warned of a dire humanitarian situation.
Israel has launched air strikes on the city, which has been home to a large refugee camp since 1949 and was badly damaged in the 2008 Gaza War. However, it has long been expected to initiate a ground assault.
Reports claimed a Hamas source said the group was “open to discussing [Israel’s] proposal positively,” adding that the group is “keen to reach an agreement that guarantees a permanent ceasefire, the free return of displaced people, an acceptable deal for (prisoner) exchange and ensuring an end to the (Gaza) siege".
Speaking on BBC’S Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Pelosi said Mr Netanyahu “has never been an agent for peace” and she is “not a big fan” of the Israeli prime minister.
When asked for her opinion on the student protests against the war happening across the US, she said: “Israel has the right to defend itself – the manner in which they are doing it is really challenging because Netanyahu has never been an agent for peace.
“I’m not a big fan of his, but he couldn’t have done things worse than tens of thousands, whatever the figure may be, of people dying, children malnourished, and the uncertainty that is there, and that’s what people are speaking out about.