Egypt's Foreign Minister Pressures the Palestinian Group to Agree to the US Gaza Proposal and Lay Down Arms
Egypt and Qatar are working on attempts to convince the Palestinian faction to accept the former US president's demand to stop the hostilities in Gaza, according to the Egyptian foreign minister.
Mounting Pressure on Hamas
Badr Abdelatty declared that the opportunity is now for Hamas to lay down its weapons and avoid providing Israeli forces any pretext to prolong its operations in the region, where 28 Palestinians were lost their lives on Friday.
“We must avoid providing any justification for ongoing civilian casualties, which have escalated far beyond the events of October 7th,” Abdelatty remarked.
The diplomat explained that Egypt is “working alongside Qatar and Turkey to encourage Hamas to accept the proposal”.
Key Points of the US Initiative
The initiative would demand the group to:
- Surrender weapons and withdraw from political activities
- Release the captives in custody from the previous year's events, with 20 are presumed to be still alive
In exchange, Israel would:
- Gradually withdraw its troops from Gaza
- Be replaced by an international force
- Accept a temporary government led by Trump
Most analysts agree that the plan would effectively terminate its existence as an fighting force, while Israel would offer limited compromises.
Split Opinions within the Faction
The group is divided over the appropriate answer, with factions requesting more time to consider the deal.
The head of Hamas’s military wing has resisted the proposal, considering it a tactic to eliminate Hamas regardless of they comply.
Sources close to the group indicate that the faction is expected to request changes regarding:
- The requirement to lay down arms
- Ongoing deployment of Israeli forces in Gaza
- Guarantees that the Hamas leaders will not be targeted
Humanitarian Crisis Deteriorates
Israel persisted in its operations in Gaza City and shelling across the region on Friday, killing two dozen individuals.
Eleven of the casualties were in Gaza City, while the remaining perished in southern Gaza, including three in an Israeli drone strike in a southern area, which had been previously designated a secure area.
The Israeli military issued its last evacuation order for the city on Wednesday, with the top defense official stating that those who stay would be labeled as militants, a label that violates international law.
A vast number of people remain trapped in the urban area, including those who are unable to pay for the journey to southern Gaza, which is said to cost over a thousand dollars.
“Numerous civilians are stranded on roadsides, awaiting shelter,” commented Sarah Davies.
The UN declared that there is nowhere secure for evacuees from Gaza City, as zones labeled as secure areas in southern Gaza are “places of death”.
James Elder called the notion of a safe zone as “farcical”, adding that airstrikes are used with “chilling predictability” and schools serving as refuges are often destroyed.
Medical Services under Extreme Pressure
Hospitals in the south are operating beyond capacity, with the medical unit treating significantly beyond its intended capacity.
On Thursday, one of the last functioning hospitals admitted the remains of 27 individuals of people fatally wounded by the forces.
Dr Ahmad al-Farra referred to the situation as “extremely difficult”.
Israel has been reported as striking healthcare facilities and staff, with a nurse reportedly taken while traveling to work in a southern city.
Israel has often stated that apprehended doctors had ties to the group, though without providing evidence.
Total casualties from Israel’s war in the strip has climbed to more than sixty-two thousand civilians dead and about 170,000 wounded, according to the local health officials.