The location at a glance: for the time being no ceasefire in Gaza – mutual allegations

Hopes for a ceasefire in the Gaza War between Israel and Islamist Hamas have broken up for the time being. In its response to a proposal by the US mediator Steve Witkoff, the terrorist organization agreed to leave some hostages for a fire break, but provided other conditions. The US and Israel promptly rejected Hamas’ answer. She was “completely unacceptable”, Witkoff wrote on X. Israel will continue the efforts to bring the hostages back and defeat Hamas, said the office of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hamas has to accept the current proposal for a ceasefire, which was initially limited to 60 days, and further discussions are possible next week to a permanent end of the war, Witkoff continued. However, there is no guarantee of the final cessation of the fighting in the plan – but so far this was a central demand for Hamas. Apparently the Islamists stick to it. “Guarantees against the resumption of aggression” were sent as part of the answer to Witkoff, the dpa news agency learned from Hamas circles.

Hamas provides further conditions

The US proposal provides for an release of 10 hostages from the Gaza Strip and the handover of the remains of 18 other kidnapped. In return, Palestinian prisoners are said to be released from Israeli prisons. Hamas wants to agree to this core of the proposal. At the same time, however, the terrorist organization has other conditions.

The Islamists demand a longer -stretched timing of the hostage clearance when it is intended in Witkoff’s plan, as the dpa learned from circles of the terrorist organization. This change should prevent Israel’s head of government Netanyahu from breaking off the talks about a permanent ceasefire after a release of the first ten hostages, as he did during the previous ceasefire in January, the “Times of Israel” reported on a source involved in the conversations.

Islamists want guarantee for the end of the war

The Islamist organization also wants Israel’s military to withdraw from the sealed Gaza Strip after the ceasefire came into force, as the dpa learned from Hamas circles. The terrorist organization also wanted to state that if there is no agreement on a permanent ceasefire within 60 days, the time-limited fire break is automatically extended for an indefinite period, the US message page “Axios” quoted an informed source.

However, the main quotation is the Islamists ‘demand for the United States’ guarantees for the end of the war, “Axios” reported. However, the Israeli government of Prime Minister Netanyahu strictly rejects a ceasefire in which the war comes to an end. Critics accuse her of wanting to continue the war in the Gaza Strip for domestic reasons.

In a statement that Witkoff’s proposal had not been rejected in a statement. Rather, Israel’s reaction to the US proposal was not with the compatible with the compatible with the Hamas. Witkoff’s attitude towards the Palestinian organization is unfair and shows a “complete bias” towards Israel.

Netanyahu: Hamas answer is step backwards

US President Donald Trump had raised hopes for an early ceasefire on Friday. The warring parties are very close to an agreement, Trump had explained in the White House in front of journalists. There is a chance. It remains to be seen how things are going on. As Witkoff explained, Hamas’ answer is “completely unacceptable and a step backwards,” said Netanyahu’s office.

While Israel Witkoff’s proposal for the release of the hostages, Hamas stayed with their rejection, it said. Israel assumes that there are currently 20 to 23 living hostages and at least 35 corpses of abducted in the hands of the terrorist organization.

Criticism of Israel’s approach

The war was triggered by the attack by Hamas and other Islamist terrorists on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were dragged to Gaza as hostages. Since then, Israel’s military has been fighting against Hamas in the – now large area – coastal area. According to the health authority controlled by the Hamas, more than 54,200 Palestinians have already been killed. The authorities’ figures do not distinguish between fighters and civilians.

Israel’s army recently started a new major offensive. Since then, dozens of deaths have been reported every day. The declared goal of Israel is to completely smash Hamas and get the remaining hostages free. In view of the many dead and the catastrophic humanitarian situation of the civilian population in Gaza, there is massive criticism of Israel’s military action at home and abroad.