Hamas rejects Gaza ceasefire with Israel
Talks to reach a new temporary truce between Israel and Hamas have stalled again after the terror group rejected a week-long ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Egyptian officials involved in the negotiations told The Wall Street Journal.
Under the deal, about 40 Israeli hostages of the more than 100 still held in Gaza would be released, including all women and children and the elderly in poor health. In return, Israel would halt its air and ground operations and more humanitarian aid would enter the Palestinian enclave.
However, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad - another Iranian-backed terrorist organisation participating in the negotiations for the first time - demanded that Israel pause its current offensive before addressing any possible deal, as the US newspaper notes.
New video tonight of #IRGCterrrorists foreign minister meeting with #Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in U.S. major-non-NATO “ally” #Qatar again. pic.twitter.com/HCf0ZSIDvU
— Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) December 20, 2023
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad also reportedly asked Israel to release all Palestinian prisoners in exchange for all remaining Israeli hostages.
Despite this situation, negotiations continue as the United States redoubles its efforts to reach an agreement. In this regard, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has acknowledged that both the Biden administration and Israel are interested and working to secure another hostage deal, asserting that "the problem is Hamas".
"I am surprised that when we hear many countries urging an end to this conflict, virtually no one is demanding that Hamas stop hiding behind civilians, that it lay down its arms, that it surrender. This would end tomorrow if Hamas does that," Blinken said at a press conference.
"How can it be that you don't demand it from the aggressor and only demand it from the victim," Blinken asked, stressing the need for "a strong international voice to put pressure on Hamas" to end the war.
US Secretary of State Blinken: "What is striking to me is that even as we hear many countries urging an end to this conflict, I hear virtually no one demanding of Hamas that it stop hiding behind civilians, that it lay down its arms, that it surrender. This is over tomorrow if… pic.twitter.com/UhxQrEbWUW
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) December 20, 2023
Despite recent tensions and disagreements between Israel and the US over the military operation in Gaza, Blinken reiterated his support for Jerusalem, saying that "any other country in the world facing what Israel went through on October 7 would do the same thing". However, Blinken also stressed that ending the conflict "as quickly as possible" is Washington's top priority for 2024.
IDF fighting in new areas in Gaza
As efforts to reach a temporary ceasefire continue, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is maintaining its operation in Gaza, beginning to fight in new areas of Gaza City, such as the Daraj and Tuffah neighbourhoods, one of the last remaining Hamas battalions in the north of the territory. Also in the south, specifically in Yan Younis, the Israeli army continues to put pressure on Hamas.
The IDF says it has expanded its ground operations in the central Gaza Strip, with the 99th Division carrying out an operation in areas south of Gaza City.
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) December 21, 2023
According to the IDF, the 99th Division maneuvered into new areas of central Gaza, to establish “operational control”… pic.twitter.com/gVBX8Z3auh
According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll in the Palestinian enclave has now reached 20,000 since the war began on 7 October following an unprecedented Hamas attack that left 1,200 Israelis killed and more than 200 kidnapped.
Hamas launches one of the largest ever rocket attacks on Israel
Meanwhile, after several hours of quiet in the skies over southern and central Israel, Hamas has once again launched a volley of rockets - one of the heaviest since the start of the war - at cities including Ashdod, Tel Aviv and the surrounding area.
A video showing the large barrage of rockets that were just fired from Gaza
— Documenting Israel (@DocumentIsrael) December 21, 2023
This was filmed in Kfar Aza which is next to Gaza https://t.co/tIxabcfiie pic.twitter.com/OX557PTb7o
According to Israel, some 30 rockets were fired from Gaza by Hamas's al-Qassam Brigades, which has already claimed responsibility for the attacks. The Iron Dome has intercepted some of the rockets, although some have caused minor damage, for example to a school in Tel Aviv, according to Israeli media reports.
Multiple interceptions over Tel Aviv due to heavy rocket fire from Gaza in recent minutes. pic.twitter.com/lA9nUY9kzI
— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) December 21, 2023
Alarm bells were also sounded in northern Israel after Hezbollah launched three direct attacks on civilian areas, injuring two people. However, most of the population on the border with Lebanon has been evacuated.
