Hamas Dismisses Ceasefire Progress as Illusory Amid Tensions with Israel

[Social Media]

 

Hamas has categorically rejected suggestions that progress has been made towards a ceasefire agreement with Israel, labeling such claims as an illusion. This response comes after comments from U.S. President Joe Biden, who expressed optimism regarding the situation.

 

Speaking after two days of U.S.-backed negotiations in Qatar, President Biden stated on Friday that "we are closer than we have ever been" to achieving a ceasefire. His remarks were echoed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, which reported that Israeli negotiators had conveyed a sense of "cautious optimism" about advancing towards an agreement.

 

However, a senior Hamas official contradicted these statements in an interview with the BBC, asserting that no real progress had been made and accusing mediators of "selling illusions." Hamas has consistently maintained this stance, dismissing any claims of advancement in ceasefire talks as unfounded. The senior official's comments reflect Hamas's ongoing skepticism and dissatisfaction with the mediation efforts, which they believe are insufficient to meet their demands.

 

The Israeli government, on the other hand, has acknowledged the efforts of the United States and other mediators to dissuade Hamas from rejecting a potential hostage release deal. "Israel appreciates the efforts of the U.S. and the mediators to dissuade Hamas from its refusal to a hostage release deal," an Israeli official stated. Despite these efforts, the lack of consensus between the parties continues to hinder any meaningful progress toward a ceasefire.

 

In a broader context, the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas are part of a larger regional struggle involving Iran and its network of allies, known as the "Axis of Resistance." This coalition, cultivated by Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, includes various state, semi-state, and non-state actors united by their shared goal of eroding U.S. influence in the Middle East and ultimately destroying the Israeli state. Iran's support for these groups, including Hamas, has been a cornerstone of its regional strategy, providing them with financial, military, and political backing in exchange for influence over their actions.

 

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei recently emphasized the importance of responding to Israeli operations targeting senior leaders of the Axis of Resistance. In a meeting on August 14, Khamenei stated that "according to [his interpretation of] the Quran," any retreat in military, political, or economic affairs would lead to divine wrath. His remarks suggest that Tehran remains committed to retaliating against Israel, despite warnings from the United States that Israel would respond forcefully to any attack that results in civilian casualties or significant damage.

 

Khamenei's comments indicate that Iran is likely to carry out a retaliatory strike on Israel, although the exact nature and timing of such an attack remain uncertain.

 

Meanwhile, official statements from Hamas suggest that the prospects of a ceasefire being reached during the Doha talks  are slim. Although there have been indications that Hamas might participate in the discussions, the group has consistently maintained that it will not engage in talks that could be used by Israel to impose new conditions or continue its military operations against the Palestinian people.

 

Hamas has demanded that international mediators compel Israel to accept a ceasefire proposal that the group submitted in July 2024, rather than pursuing further negotiations. Israeli sources have reported that mediators have proposed a clause allowing Israel to resume military actions against Hamas if weapons are moved into northern Gaza.

 

Under the proposed deal, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would withdraw from the Netzarim area in the first phase, with the expectation that Hamas would not be able to significantly rearm during this period. Discussions between Israel and Egypt are reportedly ongoing regarding arrangements for the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza border and the Rafah border crossing.

 

Credit: BBC |ISW | NPR  2024-08-18

 

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

Israeli sources have reported that mediators have proposed a clause allowing Israel to resume military actions against Hamas if weapons are moved into northern Gaza.

Given they don't let independent observers into Gaza, who would be the judge of Hamas "moving weapons into northern Gaza". Hamas would have to be mad to accept such terms.

[thaibeachlovers]

Seeing Blinken on his latest "all the way with netanyahu" visit to israel I doubt the Palestinians give him the time of day as an unbiased envoy from his biased boss. As long as he is the best the US can send, IMO the ceasefire talks will be going nowhere. IMO he's just not to be trusted to put any pressure on netanyahu, no matter what he says.

[Bkk Brian]

36 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Seeing Blinken on his latest "all the way with netanyahu" visit to israel I doubt the Palestinians give him the time of day as an unbiased envoy from his biased boss. As long as he is the best the US can send, IMO the ceasefire talks will be going nowhere. IMO he's just not to be trusted to put any pressure on netanyahu, no matter what he says.

This ceasefire has nothing to do with the Palestinians and all to do with the terrorists Hamas who did not turn up for talks and you say Blinken cannot be trusted...........more pro Hamas rhetoric and acceptance that's its actually them who refuse to sign a deal.

Edited August 19 by Bkk Brian

[Bkk Brian]

Confirming Netanyahu accepts US deal proposal, Blinken says Hamas must now do the same

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday put pressure on Hamas to back the latest US proposal for a hostage deal, as Washington stepped up its efforts to reach an agreement that could end the war in Gaza.

Speaking to the press in Tel Aviv after sitting with Israel’s political and military leadership, Blinken said he had a “very constructive meeting” with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day. At the end of that meeting, Netanyahu issued a statement backing the new US proposal.

Blinken stressed that the premier “confirmed to me that Israel accepts the bridging proposal” offered by the US last week in Doha “to try to bridge the gaps that remain between the parties.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/confirming-netanyahu-accepts-us-deal-proposal-blinken-says-hamas-must-now-do-the-same/

[Social Media]

Post about an attack in the red sea has been removed. Topic here is 

 

Hamas Dismisses Ceasefire Progress as Illusory Amid Tensions with Israel

 

Please keep within that on any further discussions

[JimGant]

On 8/18/2024 at 8:12 AM, Social Media said:

Meanwhile, official statements from Hamas suggest that the prospects of a ceasefire being reached during the Doha talks  are slim

Well, ok -- I guess Israel is then forced to continue turning Gaza into a parking lot. Sorry, Hamas --  that's what you get when you're stupid enough to start a fight with the world's premiere fighting force.

[billd766]

5 minutes ago, JimGant said:

Well, ok -- I guess Israel is then forced to continue turning Gaza into a parking lot. Sorry, Hamas --  that's what you get when you're stupid enough to start a fight with the world's premiere fighting force.

The 'fight' as you call it has been going on since 1948, long before Hamas was created.

 

The Palestinians are fighting for their existence, after having their houses and land stolen, then given illegally to Israeli "settlers".

 

I doubt whether the Israeli military is the world's premier fighting force. They may have been many years ago, but no longer.

 

Even using the latest in precision US weaponry they seem to kill an awful lot of innocent men, women, children, toddlers and even babies, and all for the vanity of one old man.

 

Incidentally Israel created Hamas themselves, as a way of controlling the Palestinians.

[Nick Carter icp]

6 minutes ago, billd766 said:

 

The Palestinians are fighting for their existence, 

 

 

  They would have a much better chance of existing if they stopped attacking Israel 

[NativeBob]

and more and more brave Israeli young men [tourists] are at Onnut and Pinklao. 

language schools are almost only "occupied" with young Israelis, Russians and Ukrainians. ROFL

[thaibeachlovers]

18 hours ago, billd766 said:

I doubt whether the Israeli military is the world's premier fighting force. They may have been many years ago, but no longer.

 

If interested, it's a good read about the history of the IDF. They were more lucky than the best and fortunate that their enemies were incompetent.

[thaibeachlovers]

18 hours ago, JimGant said:

Well, ok -- I guess Israel is then forced to continue turning Gaza into a parking lot. Sorry, Hamas --  that's what you get when you're stupid enough to start a fight with the world's premiere fighting force.

and you don't care about the thousands of children being killed then? No wonder the rest of the world is turning against israel with attitudes like that. Karma is coming.

[Bkk Brian]

One of the latest Hamas demands was that safe passage out of Gaza be given to the tunnel rat and main terrorist leader Sinwar and his family. This was agreed by Israel.

 

A senior Israeli official has stated that Israel is proposing to give Sinwar safe passage out of Gaza in exchange for a ceasefire agreement.

Israel would also allow Sinwar to take his family with him and would further release terrorists being held in Israeli prisons.

Israel is willing to negotiate, to the point that the man responsible for so much destruction and violence would be set free. 

That’s what’s important for Sinwar, to save himself and not his people.

For Israel the goal was never revenge, it's about getting the hostages home and paving the way for peace. 

Israel is willing to sacrifice so much for peace.

 

Israeli official proposes ‘safe passage’ for Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar: Report

Israel has proposed giving safe passage out of the Gaza Strip to Hamas’s leader Yahya Sinwar in exchange for freeing hostages it kidnapped from Israel during the Oct. 7 terrorist attack and giving up control of the strip, a senior Israeli official told Bloomberg News on Tuesday. 

Israel’s hostage envoy, Gal Hirsch, told the media outlet that an offer for Sinwar’s safe passage was presented a day and a half ago, but he would not characterize the response so far. A request for comment from Hamas by The Hill was not immediately answered. 

https://thehill.com/policy/international/4872462-israel-hamas-yahya-sinwar-gaza/