Hamas decidedly rejects Israel's demand for disarmament

Hamas decidedly rejects Israel's demand for disarmament

The conflict situation between Israel and Hamas has come into focus again after the Hamas recently rejected the Israeli demand for its disarmament as "completely unacceptable". This claim was sent to the Hamas delegation via Egyptian intermediaries. Indirect negotiations on possible ceasefire are currently running, led by Egypt, Qatar and the USA.

A central topic of current discussions is the release of the last Israeli hostages and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention centers. In addition, the resumption of blocked aid deliveries for the needy population in the Gaza Strip is up for discussion. Despite these efforts, the situation is tense because the last ceasefire ended almost a month ago due to a lack of unity over the modalities.

protests and military conflicts

In the Gaza Strip there are now protests against Hamas. Numerous demonstrators demand the deduction of Hamas and are dissatisfied with the devastating consequences of the war. Hundreds of people have demonstrated in the past few days, while Hamas urgently warns of support for Israel. These protests are part of a larger context that is characterized by massive destruction in areas such as Beit Lahiya.

The military situation remains threatening, since Israel has been leading air strikes on the Gaza Strip for days. The current conflict, which began on October 7, 2023 with an attack by Hamas, has already led to over 50,100 deaths in the Gaza Strip, with a third of them being children and adolescents. International organizations have classified the figures as credible, even if they cannot be checked independently.

negotiations and international reactions

The mediator states ask both Israel and Hamas to resume conversations about a ceasefire that may begin on Thursday in Doha, Qatar. However, Hamas has signaled that it will only take part in discussions if a specific plan is presented. A spokesman for Hamas says that she is ready to negotiate with suggestions from US President Joe Biden, but rejects a direct participation in talks with Israel.

In addition to the efforts to take a ceasefire, Israel has granted approval for the construction of a new settlement in the occupied West Bank. Minister of Finance Bezhalel Smotrich has announced the plan for the Sahel Heletz settlement and emphasizes that the development cannot be stopped by international criticism. The UN considers the Israeli settlement policy in West Bank as an impact on international law, which further increases the tensions.

Negotiations on permanent peace in the Middle East are therefore facing enormous challenges, and the international community observes the developments with concern.