Palestinian Liberation Organization demands ceasefire guarantee, Netanyahu speaks in a different tone
In the second day of talks with Israel in Egypt, the Palestinian Liberation Organization Hamas demanded a ceasefire guarantee and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. The organization has demanded international guarantees in this regard.
At the same time, detailed discussions were held on the timetable for the release of Israeli hostages. Hamas officials have demanded that the final stage of the hostage release be the final withdrawal of Israeli troops from the valley.
It is worth noting that Hamas and Israeli representatives held indirect talks for the second day in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday (October 7).
Representatives of the United States, Qatar and Egypt acted as mediators in the talks. The Qatari prime minister is also scheduled to participate in the third day of talks today (October 8).
According to Egyptian state media Al-Qahira News, Hamas’s top negotiator Khalil al-Haya said that Hamas “does not believe in the occupation for a second.”
Accusing Israel of violating two previous ceasefires, he said Hamas wanted “real guarantees” that the war in Gaza would end and not resume.
US President Donald Trump has spoken out on the issue. After the hostages were released, he said that “Israel will not attack Gaza again”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, did not give any indication or assurances. He issued a statement on the anniversary of the Hamas-led offensive in southern Israel on October 7. In it, he said that Hamas was the one who started Israel’s war on Gaza and called the past two years of conflict “a war for the existence and future of Israel”.
Without directly mentioning the ceasefire talks, Netanyahu said that Israel was entering a “devastating day of decision”.
In the words of the Israeli Prime Minister, “Israel will continue to work to achieve all the goals of the war. Which include – returning all hostages, ending Hamas rule, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.”
Source: Al Jazeera.
