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Gaza ceasefire progress is an illusion, says Hamas

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Gaza ceasefire progress is an illusion, says Hamas

Hamas has described suggestions of progress on an Israel-Gaza ceasefire deal as an illusion, after US President Joe Biden said he was feeling “optimistic”.

Following two days of US-backed talks in Qatar, President Biden said on Friday “we are closer than we have ever been”.

And on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israeli negotiators had expressed “cautious optimism” about moving towards agreement on a deal.

However, a senior Hamas official told the BBC earlier there had been no progress and mediators were “selling illusions”.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on 7 October, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.

More than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

A ceasefire deal agreed in November saw Hamas release 105 of the hostages in return for a week-long ceasefire and the freeing of some 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Israel says 111 hostages are still being held, 39 of whom are presumed dead.

In a recent joint statement, the US, Qatar and Egypt stated that they had presented a proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal that “narrows the gaps” between Israel and Hamas.

Israel has said any ceasefire deal would require the release of the remaining hostages. Some have already been released, while others are thought to have died in Gaza.

Relatives of hostages still in Gaza are calling the current negotiations as the “last chance” to get some of them out alive.

After 10 months of war and thousands of casualties, there is overwhelming pressure for a breakthrough.

A wider regional conflict, in the event of talks between Israel and Hamas collapsing completely, is a distinct possibility and is something all of those involved are fearful of.

The mediators said that the past two days of ceasefire discussions had been “serious, constructive and conducted in a positive atmosphere”.

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Technical teams are expected to continue working over the coming days on the details of how to implement the proposed terms before senior government officials meet again in Cairo, hoping to reach an agreement on the terms set out in Doha.

While the mediators’ statement is clearly a positive development, there is still a long way to go before a ceasefire is agreed.

This is not the first time the Mr Biden has said he thought a deal was close – and not everyone shares his cautious optimism.

Neither Hamas nor the Israeli government have been quite so upbeat in their responses.

Israel says its position and core principles have remained unchanged and were “well-known”. It accused Hamas of refusing to agree to a deal for the release of the hostages.

Above all else, Israelis want to see the remaining hostages released but many are sceptical that is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s primary goal. He has insisted that a “total victory” over Hamas is his government’s priority.

Meanwhile, Hamas’s new leader, Yaya Sinwar, continues to show few signs of compromise.

Asked about President Biden’s statement, the senior Hamas official told the BBC “what we have received from the mediators is very disappointing. There has been no progress”.

Hamas is understood to have dropped its demand for a permanent ceasefire in favour of Mr Biden’s proposal for a six-week pause in which an end to the war could be brokered.

Mr Biden’s ceasefire proposal also included the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, the staggered release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and the return of dead hostages’ remains.

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The “bridging proposal” put forward by US, Egyptian and Qatari negotiators will be the subject of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s negotiations in the region and should form the basis for the next talks in Cairo at which all parties, including Hamas, are expected to attend.

That proposal reportedly “closes the remaining gaps” between the two sides’ positions which could allow for “a rapid implementation of the agreement”.

It might sound straightforward, but there are big obstacles to overcome and there is still absolutely no trust between senior Israeli or Hamas figures.

They’re being dragged to the table – perhaps against their wishes – by others fearful of what could happen in the event of failure.

Hamas and its allies are convinced the US administration is trying to buy more time.

If Iran attacks Israel, it will appear as if it is Hamas which undermined the negotiations.

Hamas does not hide its desire for Iran and Hezbollah to attack Israel and for the escalation to turn into a regional war.

They believe a strong blow to Israel will weaken Mr Netanyahu and push him to accept a deal.

For his part, Mr Biden warned “no-one in the region should take actions to undermine this process”.

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Meanwhile, Israel’s military operation in Gaza continues, with an air strike in the early hours of Saturday morning killing 15 people in the al-Zawaida neighbourhood of central Gaza, according to the Palestinian civil defence authority, a rescue service.

Spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP news agency nine children and three women were among the dead.

Israel has not commented directly. The Israel Defense Forces said on Saturday morning it had “eliminated a number of terrorists” in central Gaza, including one that had fired at Israeli forces operating in the area.

The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders for several blocks in northern Khan Younis and Deir Balah – further shrinking the humanitarian zone in which thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge from the fighting.

Israel said the blocks had become dangerous for civilians “due to significant acts of terrorism” and the firing of rockets and mortars towards Israel.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) said: “Once again, fear spreads as families have nowhere to go.”

Pressing the need for a ceasefire deal is the circulation of the polio virus – which can spread through faecal matter – is now circulating inside the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in Gaza.

“Let’s be clear: The ultimate vaccine for polio is peace and an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” UN Secretary General António Guterres said.

Gaza ceasefire progress is an illusion, says Hamas

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Over 330 dead as Israel unleashes ‘hell fire’ on Gaza

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Over 330 dead as Israel unleashes ‘hell fire’ on Gaza

Israel vowed on Tuesday to continue fighting in Gaza until the return of all hostages as it unleashed its most intense strikes since a ceasefire, with the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory reporting more than 330 people killed.

Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deciding to “resume war” after an impasse in truce negotiations, and warned that the return to fighting could be a “death sentence” for hostages still alive in Gaza.

The strikes were by far the biggest and deadliest since a truce took effect on January 19. Hamas has not responded to the strikes so far.

Netanyahu warned Hamas this month of consequences it “cannot imagine” if it does not free hostages still in Gaza, and Israeli media said Israel had drafted plans to ramp up pressure on Hamas under a scheme dubbed the “Hell Plan”.

The White House said Israel consulted US President Donald Trump’s administration before launching the wave of strikes, which the health ministry in Gaza said killed mostly women and children.

Netanyahu’s office said the operation was ordered after “Hamas’s repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators”.

“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” the statement said.

“We will not stop fighting as long as the hostages are not returned home and all our war aims are not achieved,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said.

Apart from the release of the remaining hostages, Israel’s other main war aim is to crush Hamas.

In a statement, Hamas said: “Netanyahu and his extremist government have decided to overturn the ceasefire agreement.

Over 330 dead as Israel unleashes ‘hell fire’ on Gaza

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Trump revokes security details for Biden’s children

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Former US President Joe Biden and US President Donald Trump

Trump revokes security details for Biden’s children

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he is withdrawing Hunter Biden’s government bodyguards, extending his campaign of political retribution to Joe Biden’s son.

Trump announced the same measure against Ashley Biden, the former president’s daughter with former first lady Jill.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump asserted that Hunter Biden’s security detail is composed of as many as 18 people, calling it “ridiculous.”

He said Hunter Biden was currently on vacation in South Africa and noted he had recently suspended US aid to the country over alleged rights violations.

“Please be advised that, effective immediately, Hunter Biden will no longer receive Secret Service protection. Likewise, Ashley Biden who has 13 agents will be taken off the list,” Trump wrote.

Federal law grants Secret Service protection to former presidents and their spouses, but only to their children if they are under age 16.

Nonetheless, protection is often extended for a period of time to adult children.

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A Secret Service spokesperson, when queried about Trump’s action, told AFP: “We are aware of the President’s decision to terminate protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden.”

“The Secret Service will comply and is actively working with the protective details and the White House to ensure compliance as soon as possible.”

Hunter Biden has been a target of Republican ire for years, with the animosity intensifying after his father pardoned his gun and tax crime convictions shortly before leaving office in January.

On Monday, Trump declared that the pardon and others issued by Biden were void, an unprecedented move with unclear legal founding.

Trump revokes security details for Biden’s children

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Trump invokes Alien Enemies Act, deports over 200 gang members

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U.S President Donald Trump

Trump invokes Alien Enemies Act, deports over 200 gang members

US President Donald Trump issued a proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, accusing Tren de Aragua of “perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion of predatory incursion against the territory of the United States.”

He announced that members of the gang will be deported for engaging in “irregular warfare” against the United States. The Alien Enemies Act was last used during WWII to imprison Japanese-American civilians.

On Saturday evening, US District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, DC, issued a 14-day freeze to deportations covered by Trump’s proclamation, pending more legal arguments.

After lawyers informed him that planes carrying deportees had already taken off, Judge Boasberg issued a verbal order for the planes to return, according to US media, though this command was not included in his written ruling.

According to Reuters, the written notice was filed in the court docket at 19:25 EDT on Saturday (00:25 GMT on Sunday), but it is unknown when the flights carrying the alleged gang members left the United States.

In a court filing on Sunday, Department of Justice lawyers stated that the order did not apply since the deportees “had already been removed from United States territory”.

The Justice Department has appealed the judge’s decision.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which was participating in the case against the Trump administration, stated that the court order may have been breached.

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The case presents constitutional issues because, under the US system of checks and balances, government entities are expected to follow a federal judge’s decision.

Venezuela denounced Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, claiming it “unjustly criminalises Venezuelan migration” and “evokes the darkest episodes in the history of humanity, from slavery to the horror of Nazi concentration camps.”

Rights organisations blasted Trump, accusing him of utilising a 227-year-old legislation to sidestep due process.

Amnesty International USA commented on X that the deportations were “yet another example of the Trump administration’s racist targeting” of Venezuelans “based on sweeping claims of gang affiliation”.

Bukele, a Trump ally, stated that the detainees were promptly taken to El Salvador’s renowned mega-jail, the Terrorism Confinement Centre (Cecot).

The Salvadoran president stated that they will be imprisoned there “for a period of one year,” which might be “renewable.”

El Salvador’s Cecot jail is part of Bukele’s efforts to combat organised crime in the country.

Human rights groups have accused the newly built maximum-security institution, which can accommodate up to 40,000 people, of mistreating inmates.

The agreement between the United States and El Salvador is an indication of improved diplomatic relations.

El Salvador was the second country Rubio visited as the US’s top diplomat.

During that trip in February, Bukele made an initial offer to accept US deportees, claiming it would help finance the enormous Cecot facility.

The newest deportations during Trump’s second term are part of the president’s long-standing campaign against illegal immigration in the United States.

In January, Trump signed an executive order designating Tren de Aragua and MS-13 as foreign terrorist organisations.

He won over voters during the campaign, in part, by threatening to carry out the greatest deportation operation in US history.

While illegal border crossings have dropped to their lowest levels in decades since Trump took office, the Republican president has allegedly been upset by the slow pace of deportations thus far.

Trump invokes Alien Enemies Act, deports over 200 gang members

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