Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister of sabotaging ceasefire talks as an Israeli official has said that the Palestinian resistance group’s acceptance of the truce proposal “took Israel by surprise.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Hamas has said the Israeli military incursion in the Rafah crossing is aimed at thwarting the continuing ceasefire talks.
“By deciding to close the Rafah and Karem Abu Salem border crossing, Israel is leading the region toward a disaster and continues its policy of starvation and persecution of [Palestinians],” the statement read.
“Rafah raid affirms Israeli intentions to sabotage ceasefire talks in a bid to serve Netanyahu’s personal interests,” Hamas’ statement added.
The Palestinian group also urged for “international intervention” to push the Zionist entity towards a ceasefire, saying it held the administration of US President Joe Biden and the international community fully responsible for the war’s continuation.
RAFAH CROSSING BORDER TODAY pic.twitter.com/8wWAnFgKkJ
— Muhammad Smiry 🇵🇸 (@MuhammadSmiry) May 7, 2024
Earlier on Monday, Hamas announced it has approved a proposal for a ceasefire in the seven-month Gaza war put forward by mediators Qatar and Egypt.
The Times of Israel quoted an Israeli official as saying that Hamas ceasefire proposal “took Israel by complete surprise.”
For its part, the United Nations said it has had its access to the closed Rafah Crossing into southern Gaza denied by the Israeli occupation authorities.
“We currently do not have any physical presence at the Rafah crossing as our access… has been denied by COGAT,” spokesman for the UN’s humanitarian agency OCHA Jens Laerke told a press conference in Geneva, referring to the Israeli agency that oversees supplies into the Palestinian territories.
With access to Rafah limited, humanitarian aid delivery, including food and fuel, is a major concern, warn aid teams.
“If no fuel comes in for a prolonged period of time, it would be a very effective way of putting the humanitarian operation in its grave,” @UNOCHA Jens Laerke. pic.twitter.com/aWUcDJCmRl— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) May 7, 2024
“As fuel only comes in through Rafah, the one day buffer is for the entire operation in Gaza,” said Laerke, adding that if no fuel comes in, “it would be a very effective way of putting the humanitarian operation in its grave.”
Angry Protests across ‘Israel’
On the other hand, angry Israeli protests erupted in Tel Aviv and Al-Quds (Jerusalem) late Monday as families of captives held in Gaza and anti-government demonstrators calling for a deal took to the streets to rally against the Zionist government’s rejection of a Hamas ceasefire offer.
Israeli occupation police twice dispersed hundreds of protesters blocking traffic on Tel Aviv’s Ayalon highway, with demonstrators banging drums, blowing on bullhorns, and lighting fires.
🚨#BREAKING: PROTESTS ERUPT ALL ACROSS ISRAEL – TEL AVIV ON FIRE
The largest protest to take the streets and they are demanding an immediate ceasefire deal with the Palestinian resistance
Protests so far are in 16 different locations across israel this includes blocking main… pic.twitter.com/r59ui65a2d
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) May 6, 2024
“The time has come to take the deal. The time has come for a ceasefire,” mother of an Israeli captive yelled into a bullhorn from the roof of a car stopped on the highway. “We won’t let them pass up the chance tonight.”
Source: Agencies
