Hamas urged the United States on Thursday to “apply substantial pressure” on Israel to reach a ceasefire agreement for Gaza, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the notion that a deal was imminent.
Hamas and Israel have been exchanging accusations over stalled ceasefire and hostage exchange talks, especially following the deaths of six hostages held in Gaza.
Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s lead negotiator based in Qatar, called on the US to “apply genuine pressure on Netanyahu and his government” and to “abandon their blind bias” towards Israel. However, Netanyahu stated, “There is no deal in progress.”
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel must maintain control over the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border to prevent arms smuggling to Hamas, which launched its attack on Israel on October 7, igniting the ongoing conflict. Hamas demands a complete Israeli withdrawal from this area and accused Netanyahu of sabotaging any potential agreement.
Hamas argued that a new deal is unnecessary since they had already agreed to a truce outlined by President Biden months ago. They warned against falling for what they described as Netanyahu’s attempt to use negotiations to prolong the aggression.
In response, Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that Washington’s proposal is close to being finalized, with “90 percent agreed upon,” and stressed that both parties need to resolve the remaining issues.
Amid Israeli protests, critics blame Netanyahu for the hostages’ deaths, accusing him of not making necessary concessions for a ceasefire. Gil Dickmann, whose cousin was one of the deceased hostages, participated in a rally in Tel Aviv demanding action.
Qatar, a key mediator, accused Israel of attempting to “distort facts and mislead public opinion with falsehoods,” warning that such actions could undermine peace efforts.
The conflict, which began with Hamas’s attack on October 7, has resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, primarily civilians, according to Israeli figures. Out of 251 hostages taken, 97 are still in Gaza, including 33 confirmed dead. Israel’s retaliatory strikes in Gaza have claimed at least 40,878 lives, mostly women and children, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry.
In the West Bank, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called for the military to use its “full strength” against Palestinian militants. Israeli airstrikes in the northern West Bank have resulted in the deaths of at least 36 Palestinians since late August.
Meanwhile, the destruction of infrastructure in Gaza has led to a polio outbreak, the first in 25 years. A large vaccination campaign is underway, targeting over 640,000 children, with initial doses already administered and further efforts planned for the coming weeks.