Egypt’s latest diplomatic initiative appears doomed to failure after representatives of the Islamist groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad showed signs of rejection. Booed by the hostages’ families, the Israeli leader reaffirms that the tactic of ‘military pressure’ is the only one that will work.
A plan to end the war in Gaza was presented by Cairo to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Israel, the United States and European governments, but has so far been met with resistance from the groups responsible for the October 7 terrorist attacks . According to Reuters, citing Egyptian sources, they did not accept leaving power in the Gaza Strip.
However, the news agency later denied it. A Hamas leader, Izzat al-Risheq, said he was not aware of the information published by Reuters. For Al Jazeera, another representative of the Islamists left the door open. “We still talk about ideas. Our clear position is that there will be no prisoner exchange negotiations without a full ceasefire and the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza,” said Osama Hamdan. “No one accepts negotiating under fire, not Hamas, and no one else.” But Hamdan rejected the idea of Hamas ceding power in Gaza, for example to “a panel of Palestinian experts” until elections are held. “Who will lead the Palestinians is an internal issue for Palestine.”
“Without military pressure, we would not have been able to free more than a hundred hostages so far. And without military pressure we will not be able to free all the hostages.” Benjamin Netanyahu
The plan was due to be discussed by the Israeli government, hours after Netanyahu’s speech in parliament was interrupted by relatives of Hamas hostages. “Now, now,” they shouted, referring to the moment for the release of loved ones.
The Egyptian plan
The first phase of the Egyptian plan, which has the backing of Qatar, calls for a halt to fighting for two weeks, expandable to three or four, in exchange for the release of 40 hostages. In return, Israel would release 120 Palestinian prisoners and humanitarian aid would enter Gaza. In a second phase, an Egyptian-sponsored “national Palestinian dialogue” would end divisions between Palestinian factions and lead to the formation of a technocratic government in the West Bank and Gaza that would oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and would pave the way for elections.
“I call for an end to military operations, with the terrible harvest of innocent civilian casualties, and call for a solution to the desperate human situation by opening up to the provision of humanitarian assistance.” Pope Francis
The third phase of the Egyptian plan calls for a widespread ceasefire, the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, including soldiers, in exchange for one to a certain number of Palestinian prisoners of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Israel would withdraw its troops from the Gaza Strip and allow Gazans displaced from the north of the enclave to return to their homes.
Iran accuses Israel
An airstrike on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, killed Sayyed Razi Moussavi, a member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responsible for coordinating the military alliance between Syria and Iran. Moussavi is described as one of the top advisers to the Guard in Syria. with the rank of brigadier general.
In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared that Israel will “pay” for the death of one of its commanders. “Without a doubt, the brutal Zionist regime will pay for this crime,” the Guards said in a statement on Iranian state television. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said Moussavi’s death was “cruel and cowardly” and said Iran has the right to respond with “necessary measures” and at the time and place it chooses. chooses.
Source: DN
