The United States continues to push Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire

2024-07-01 16:35:11, Kosova & Bota CNA

Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, an ally of Iran-backed Hamas, fired a barrage of rockets into Israeli territory today as Israeli tanks advanced into the Gaza Strip amid heavy fighting. The attack by Palestinian militants came nine months after the start of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, while the United States, Egypt and Qatar continue to push the two sides to agree to a ceasefire deal.

Twenty rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory on Monday. Israeli authorities said the attack caused no casualties, but observers said it was proof that Palestinian militants could still attack Israel with rockets, nine months after Israel's offensive in Gaza aimed at destroying armed groups that threaten its security. .

Israeli tanks penetrated deep into the eastern part of Gaza City and advanced into the southern town of Rafah. But despite expectations that the Rafah operation would be a turning point in the fight against Hamas, Israel has been surprised by the resurgence of Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in northern and central Gaza.

During a meeting with his cabinet on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained what he called the "sacred duty to release the hostages" as well as the delays in agreeing on the peace plan.

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"Everyone knows the simple truth. Hamas is the only obstacle to the release of our hostages. Through a combination of political and military pressure – above all military pressure – we will return all 120 of our hostages. Alive and dead," declared Prime Minister Netanyahu.

But for many Israelis, this pledge is not enough. Thousands of protesters gathered again in Tel Aviv to demand elections that they say will oust Mr. Netanyahu from power.

The United States and regional partners are continuing efforts to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas. But both sides are continuing to stand firm in their positions - Hamas demands a ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel accepts only brief pauses in fighting until the militant group is destroyed.

"There has been no real progress... As we have said, Hamas is willing to deal positively with proposals that would ensure a permanent ceasefire, a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a serious exchange agreement," he told the agency. Reuters senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan.

Israel has given signs that the army's operation in Rafah is nearing completion. According to Israeli officials, after the intensive phase of the war is over, Israeli forces will focus on more limited-scale operations aimed at preventing Hamas from regrouping.

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Israeli authorities released 54 Palestinians they arrested during the war, according to Palestinian officials. Among those released was Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, the director of Al-Shifa hospital, who was arrested when the Israeli army entered the hospital in November last year, under allegations that the hospital was being used by Hamas for military purposes, which the militant group and hospital leaders have rejected them.

"We were severely tortured, my little finger was broken. They repeatedly hit me on the head, causing me wounds several times. We are tortured almost every day in Israeli prisons. The prisoners' cells were raided on a daily basis and they were severely beaten every day,” Mr. Abu Selmeyah said.

Fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas militants is causing the serial displacement of thousands of Palestinians, who are facing high temperatures these days.

Since the start of the war on October 7, sparked by an attack by Hamas militants on settlements in Israel that killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages, Israeli airstrikes and other military operations in Gaza have killed nearly 38,000 Palestinians. , a figure from the Hamas-led Ministry of Health, which does not distinguish between civilians and militants.

The Israeli offensive has been widely criticized by international circles due to the large-scale destruction of the Gaza Strip and the high cost to civilians./ VOA