Cairo and Qatar are actively pursuing diplomatic moves to urge Hamas to accept the former US president's proposal to halt the conflict in the Gaza Strip, according to the Egyptian foreign minister.
Increasing Diplomatic Pressure on the Group
Badr Abdelatty emphasized that the time had come for Hamas to disarm and avoid providing Israeli forces any justification to prolong its offensive in Gaza, where 28 Palestinians were killed on recently.
“Let’s not give any excuse for one party to use Hamas as a pretext for this mad daily killings of civilians. What’s happening is far beyond the 7th of October,” Abdelatty stated.
The diplomat added that Cairo is “in close contact with Qatar and Turkey to persuade Hamas to agree to the terms”.
Key Points of the US Initiative
This proposal would necessitate the group to:
- Surrender weapons and withdraw from political activities
- Return the remaining 48 hostages from the October incident, 20 of whom are thought to survive
In return, Israeli authorities would:
- Phase out its forces from the territory
- Substituted by an multinational troops
- Allow a transitional authority led by the former president
Observers agree that the initiative would spell an end to its existence as an militant organization, while Israel would offer limited compromises.
Split Opinions within Hamas
Hamas is at odds over its reaction, with some members asking for a delay to evaluate the proposal.
A senior commander has opposed the proposal, considering it a strategy to destroy the group if they comply.
Sources close to the group report that Hamas is likely to propose amendments regarding:
- Weapons surrender
- Continued presence of military in Gaza
- Guarantees that the group’s leadership will not be pursued
Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies
Israeli forces persisted in its operations in the northern area and airstrikes across the territory on the recent day, killing 28 people.
Several of the victims 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 once declared a protected space.
The Israeli military issued its ultimate directive for the city on Wednesday, with the defence minister declaring that individuals left would be labeled as militants, a label that defies global norms.
A vast number of civilians remain stranded in the city, many of whom who cannot afford the evacuation to southern Gaza, which is said to cost a significant sum.
“Countless individuals are forced to sleep outdoors while seeking refuge,” said a Red Cross spokesperson.
United Nations agencies reported that there is no protected area for evacuees from the city, as areas labeled as protected spaces in the south are “places of death”.
A UNICEF spokesperson labeled the idea of secure areas as “unrealistic”, noting that explosives are used with frightening frequency and schools designated as temporary shelters are often destroyed.
Medical Services under Extreme Pressure
Medical facilities in the south are operating beyond capacity, with the Red Cross field hospital accommodating significantly beyond its intended capacity.
Recently, one of the last functioning hospitals received numerous fatalities of people killed by the Israeli military.
Dr Ahmad al-Farra characterized the conditions as “very hard”.
Israel has been alleged to be targeting hospitals and medical workers, with medical staff allegedly detained while on duty in the area.
Authorities has previously claimed that arrested medical officials had connections to the group, though offering no substantiation.
Fatalities from the conflict in Gaza has reached over 62,000 civilians killed and nearly 170,000 injured, per the Gaza health authority.
