The terrorist group Hamas on early Tuesday morning rejected the Gaza ceasefire compromise foisted the Biden administration on Israel.
Israel had offered to release hundreds of convicted Palestinian terrorists and murders in exchange for dozens of hostages. “Israel reportedly agreed to release some 700-800 Palestinian prisoners in return for 40 hostages,” the Jerusalem Post disclosed Tuesday.
Hamas in a statement rejected the deal, declaring that it “sticks to its original position” of immediate ceasefire in Gaza, withdrawal of the Israeli military and large-scale release of terrorists from Israeli prisons.
The Biden-backed deal “did not respond to any of the basic demands of our people and our resistance [terrorist warfare]: a comprehensive ceasefire, withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced, and a real exchange of prisoners,” the Gaza-based terror group said Tuesday early morning.
Following Hamas’ rejection, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recalled Israeli negotiators from Qatar, where Hamas’s top leadership enjoys safe haven.
Hamas “is not interested in continuing negotiations for a deal and is an unfortunate testimony to the damage created by the Security Council’s decision,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said referring to the UN Security Council resolution — not vetoed by the Biden administration — on Monday, which called for an “immediate ceasefire” until the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan, giving Hamas time to rearm and regroup.
The UN resolution urging Israel to halt military operation was ‘welcomed‘ by Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
“Israel will not submit to Hamas’s delusional demands and will continue to act to achieve all the goals of the war: to release all the hostages, to destroy Hamas’s military and governmental capabilities, and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,” the Israeli prime minister assured.
The Israeli news website YNET reported Israeli prime minister’s statement:
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, “Hamas’ stance demonstrates they’re not interested in continuing the negotiation and deal-making process. This is a regrettable testament to the damages caused by the UN Security Council’s decision.””Hamas once again rejected any compromise offer from the Americans and reiterated its extreme demands: an immediate end to the war, a complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip and leaving its governance capabilities in place to enable it to repeat the massacre of October 7, as promised.””Israel will not yield to Hamas’ outrageous demands and will continue to strive for all the war’s objectives: releasing all hostages, destroying Hamas’ military and ruling capabilities and ensuring Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s stance has a wide backing in Israel. The war, started by Hamas on October 7, can only end with the elimination of its Gaza-based terror chief Yahya Sinwar, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Tuesday.
“The reality is this – and the world and us must face it – everything begins and ends with Yahya Sinwar,” President Herzog said.
“He’s the one who decided on the October massacre, he’s been seeking to shed the blood of the innocent ever since, it is he who aims to escalate the regional situation, to desecrate Ramadan, to do everything to shatter coexistence in our country and in the whole region, to sow discord among us and around the world,” the added.
The Israeli armed forces continued counter-terrorism operations across Gaza. “Over the past day, IAF fighter jets struck over 60 terror targets in the Gaza Strip, including terror tunnels, terrorist infrastructure, and military structures in which armed terrorists were identified,” the Israel military disclosed in a statement Tuesday morning.
The operation to flush out Hamas terrorist from the Shifa Hospital in Gaza city entered its eighth day, with IDF eliminating more than 180 terrorists and capturing hundreds others, including several high-value Hamas and Islamic Jihad (PIJ) operatives.
“The IDF and ISA [Israel Security Agency, also known as Shin Bet] are continuing to conduct precise operational activity in the Shifa Hospital area, while preventing harm to civilians, patients, medical teams, and medical equipment. Over the past day, the troops located weapons, and engaged with and eliminated several terrorists in the hospital area,” the IDF added.
The Israeli military also conducted retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorist group, including the destruction of a terror compound ‘deep inside’ Lebanon.
“IDF confirms strike deep inside Lebanon, targeting a military compound used by Hezbollah which has an airstrip,” the TV channel i24NEWS reported Tuesday.
On Monday night, the Israeli air force allegedly struck Iran-backed terrorist sites in neighbouring Syria. “The Israeli Air Force was responsible for overnight airstrikes in eastern Syria, which reportedly killed several Iranian-linked operatives,” The Times of Israel claimed. “The strikes in the Deir Ezzor and al-Bukamal area targeted assets belonging to Iran’s Unit 4000, the Special Operations Division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ Intelligence Organization, and the special operations unit of the IRGC’s Quds Force in Syria, known as Unit 18840, according to Israeli defense sources.”
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