Egyptian Foreign Minister Pressures the Palestinian Group to Agree to the US Gaza Strip Peace Plan and Disarm
Egypt and Qatar are working on attempts to convince Hamas to comply with Donald Trump's proposal to end the war in Gaza, according to Egypt's foreign minister.
Increasing Pressure on Hamas
Egypt's foreign minister emphasized that the time had come for the organization to lay down its weapons and refrain from offering Israeli forces any excuse to persist in its operations in Gaza, where two dozen Gazans were lost their lives on Friday.
“Let’s not give any excuse for one party to use Hamas as a pretext for this mad daily killings of civilians. What’s happening is far beyond the 7th of October,” Abdelatty stated.
The diplomat explained that Cairo is “working alongside Qatar and Turkey to encourage Hamas to accept the proposal”.
Key Points of the Trump Proposal
The plan would require Hamas to:
- Surrender weapons and withdraw from political activities
- Hand over the remaining 48 hostages from the 2023 attack, with 20 are believed to be living
As part of the deal, Israeli authorities would:
- Gradually withdraw its military from the territory
- Substituted by an global peacekeeping unit
- Accept a interim administration headed by the former president
Experts agree that the initiative would lead to the dissolution of the group's role as an fighting force, while the Israeli side would make few concessions.
Split Opinions within Hamas
The organization is at odds over the appropriate answer, with certain officials seeking additional time to consider the deal.
Izz al-Din al-Haddad has objected to the proposal, seeing it as a strategy to destroy Hamas if they accept.
Those familiar with the matter suggest that Hamas is likely to propose amendments regarding:
- Disarmament terms
- Ongoing deployment of military in Gaza
- Guarantees that the group’s leadership will not be attacked
Civilian Suffering Intensifies
Israeli forces continued its operations in Gaza City and airstrikes across the wider strip on the recent day, fatally striking 28 people.
Nearly a dozen of the victims were in the northern city, while the others perished in the south, including three in an Israeli drone strike in al-Masawi, which had been earlier labeled a protected space.
The Israeli military issued its ultimate directive for the city on Wednesday, with the defence minister announcing that anyone remaining would be deemed affiliated with armed groups, a designation that violates humanitarian standards.
Hundreds of thousands of people remain unable to leave in the city, many of whom who cannot afford the evacuation to southern Gaza, which reportedly costs a significant sum.
“Many people are left to sleep along the roads until they can find shelter,” stated an aid official.
United Nations agencies declared that there is nowhere secure for evacuees from Gaza City, as zones labeled as secure areas in the south are dangerous.
A UN official labeled the notion of a safe zone as “farcical”, noting that bombs are dropped with alarming regularity and schools used as refuges are often destroyed.
Healthcare System under Extreme Pressure
Hospitals in the south are operating beyond capacity, with the Red Cross field hospital accommodating more than double its normal limits.
On Thursday, a major medical facility received numerous fatalities of people shot dead by the forces.
A senior doctor described the circumstances as “extremely difficult”.
Israel has been reported as targeting healthcare facilities and staff, with medical staff said to be taken while heading to her job in the area.
Israel has previously claimed that apprehended doctors had ties to the group, though without providing evidence.
Total casualties from hostilities in Gaza has climbed to at least 62,622 Gazans dead and about 170,000 hurt, according to the local health officials.