Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire proposal in the seven-month-old conflict in Gaza, following an Israeli directive for Palestinians in Rafah to evacuate in anticipation of a possible invasion. There was no immediate response from Israel to this development, and the United States noted that it was “reviewing” Hamas’s acceptance of the truce.
In a statement, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh communicated to mediators from Qatar and Egypt that Hamas accepted their ceasefire proposal. A senior Hamas official emphasized that the decision now lies with Israel to either accept or obstruct the truce after seven months of conflict.
The call for Rafah’s evacuation by Israel raised international concerns about the potential consequences of an Israeli ground invasion. Stephane Dujarric, a UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spokesman, criticized the evacuation order, labelling it unsafe to execute.
Disagreements between Israel and Hamas had persisted over the weekend in Cairo, culminating in a stall in talks after a Hamas-claimed rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers. Despite these tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained committed to deploying ground troops into Rafah, disregarding international concerns.
Amidst these developments, Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden discussed the situation, with Biden reiterating his stance on Rafah. The discussion also led to an agreement to keep the Kerem Shalom crossing open for humanitarian needs despite its recent closure following the rocket attack from Rafah.
The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, condemned Israel’s evacuation directive as inhumane and contrary to international laws. The conflict, marked as Gaza’s bloodiest, began with a significant attack by Hamas on October 7, leading to widespread casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis in the region.
As the conflict continued, international pressure mounted for a resolution, with entities like UNICEF warning of catastrophic impacts on children in Rafah and the Jordanian Foreign Minister calling for immediate action to prevent further massacres.
Efforts to mediate the conflict included an emergency meeting in Doha with CIA Director Bill Burns to revive the stalled truce negotiations. Despite the challenges, the ongoing dialogue suggested a cautious optimism for restoring peace.
