Israeli airstrikes killed at least 14 members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad on Sunday during multiple attacks on Gaza.
Hamas is no longer in a position to dictate terms © Mena Today
Israeli airstrikes killed at least 14 members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad on Sunday during multiple attacks on Gaza.
The Israeli military confirmed targeting over 100 sites across the territory over the weekend, killing dozens of Hamas militants and destroying rocket launchers that had been used to fire at Israel in recent days.
Amid the ongoing violence, efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure the return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have gained momentum. Israeli negotiators resumed talks on Friday in Doha, with Qatari, Egyptian, and U.S. mediators facilitating the discussions.
The urgency to reach an agreement has grown as the clock ticks closer to the January 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
The Biden administration has also intensified its involvement, urging Hamas to finalize a deal. In response, Hamas stated it is committed to reaching an agreement swiftly, though the extent of progress remains unclear.
Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have openly expressed frustration with Hamas' delays.
On the ground, Hamas’ military structure has been decimated, leaving the group without effective command. Negotiations are now centered on the group’s political wing in Doha, which faces mounting pressure to agree on hostages and a ceasefire.
However, Hamas’ political leadership fears that making concessions could erode its influence, complicating the negotiation process.
Hamas is no longer in a position to dictate terms. Its insistence on holding out only exacerbates the suffering of Gaza’s civilian population, already reeling under the ongoing conflict.
By Nidal Norwas
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz declared Monday that Israeli forces would remain in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza for an indefinite period, in a pointed statement that makes no reference to the US-Iran framework agreement announced the same day.
Authorities in southern Lebanon warned people displaced by three months of war between Israel and Hezbollah against rushing home on Monday despite a U.S.-Iran deal to end the wider conflict, as Israel said it would not withdraw troops from the south.
Let us call it what it is. The framework agreement on Iran is not a peace deal. It is a capitulation dressed up in diplomatic language, and its most immediate victims are the two countries that have paid the highest price in blood and treasure to confront Iran's aggression: Israel and Lebanon.
To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.