As Palestinians in Gaza mourned the victims of recent Israeli attacks, a senior Hamas delegation met with Egypt’s intelligence chief in Cairo to discuss Israel’s violations of the ceasefire agreement.
In a statement released on Sunday, the group claimed at its meeting with Hassan Rashad that it had reiterated its commitment to implementing the first phase of the cease-fire agreement, but that it had also claimed that Israel had “continued violations” that it claimed threatened to “undermine the agreement.”
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Hamas called for a “clear and defined mechanism” under the supervision of mediators to document and stop any breaches of the agreement, including its exiled Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya among its members.
Hamas and Israel have been acting as mediators between Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, helping to secure the ceasefire that was signed last month.
The Palestinian organization said it had also discussed ways to quickly find solutions to the Gaza-occupied tunnel networks that Hamas fighters are strewn in with Egypt.
It claimed that fighters’ communication had been cut off.
At least 24 Palestinians, including children, were killed in a series of air attacks across Gaza the day after Israeli forces launched a wave of bombings that destroyed homes, makeshift shelters, and a car.
After a fighter entered Israel-controlled Gaza territory to attack Israeli soldiers there, the Israeli military claimed to be targeting Hamas members. A local Hamas commander was among the dead in the Saturday strikes, according to the military.
Hamas claims Israel was looking for an excuse to kill, and Hamas refutes the allegations. The group demanded on Saturday that Egypt, Qatar, and the US step up and put pressure on Israel to “immediately stop these violations” in a letter to the mediators.
Israel has violated the ceasefire at least 497 times since it became effective on October 10, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.
The majority of the victims, according to the report, were children, women, and the elderly, who were the most seriously injured in the attacks.
Palestinians fear an expansion of Israel’s attacks, according to Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, who is based in Gaza City.
“It’s very difficult to tell whether Israel’s attacks on Gaza have stopped. Beyond the “yellow line,” which refers to the areas under Israeli control, are attacks persisted. According to Abu Azzoum, we are seeing the destruction of civilian structures and landmarks, as well as the encroachment of a barren landscape.
“People here are concerned about the potential expansion of Israeli attacks on other parts of Gaza in the near future.” People are also skeptical about moving from the first phase of the ceasefire to phase two because they are still awaiting confirmation of whether the agreement will be sustained and whether humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts will progress, he continued.
According to US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, phase one of the ceasefire includes the opening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, the exchange of prisoners and captives, and the distribution of humanitarian aid.
Hamas has so far released all of the dead’s bodies, with the exception of three. Nearly 2, 000 Palestinians who are currently serving life sentences have been released by Israel. However, it has placed restrictions on border crossings, which humanitarian organizations continue to criticize.
Israel has also blocked the opening of the Rafah crossing.
In addition, the second phase of the ceasefire calls for the Trump-led “board of peace” to be under the control of a technocratic Palestinian committee. Additionally, the board will deploy a temporary International Stabilization Force to demilitarize Gaza, train Palestinian police, and secure border areas.
Hamas claims, however, that it will not defuse the Israeli occupation for a long time.
In addition, Tump’s plan states that “Israel will not occupy or annex” the territory and that no Palestinians would be made to leave Gaza.
