Hamas responded Tuesday to the U.S.-backed proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza, stating its desire for some “amendments” to the deal. The group’s response did not outright accept the proposal pushed by the United States but kept negotiations alive for an elusive halt to the eight-month war.
Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha mentioned that the reply included “amendments that confirm the cease-fire, withdrawal, reconstruction and (prisoner) exchange.” However, he did not provide further details.
While generally supporting the proposal, Hamas officials have expressed concerns about whether Israel will actually follow through on the terms, particularly regarding a permanent end to fighting and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for the release of all hostages held by the militants.
The U.N. human rights office also stated on Tuesday that there is a possibility that both Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups may have committed war crimes related to a deadly raid by Israeli forces that freed four hostages and resulted in the deaths of at least 274 Palestinians over the weekend.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with over 37,100 people killed in the conflict according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Palestinians are facing widespread hunger due to a severe shortage of food, medicine, and other supplies. U.N. agencies have warned that over 1 million people in Gaza could experience extreme starvation by mid-July.
Israel initiated the war after an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, during which militants entered southern Israel, resulting in the killing of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of approximately 250 individuals.
For more updates:
— Hamas responds to Gaza cease-fire plan seeking some changes. US evaluates the reply
— Netanyahu’s top rival left Israel’s war Cabinet. How does that affect the prime minister and Gaza?
— UN reports violence against children in conflict reached extreme levels in 2023, including in Gaza
— Dozens arrested in new pro-Palestinian protests at University of California, Los Angeles.
— UN states that Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups may have committed war crimes in a deadly raid
— What does Israel’s rescue of 4 captives, and the killing of 274 Palestinians, mean for truce talks?
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Here’s the latest:
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah says a senior commander has been killed
BEIRUT — Lebanese militant group Hezbollah announced early Wednesday the death of one of its commanders, identified as Taleb Sami Abdullah or “Hajj Abu Taleb.”
The group did not provide details on the location and circumstances of his death but identified him as a “martyr on the road to Jerusalem,” a term they use for those killed in the current conflict with Israel. Hezbollah released a photo of Abdullah alongside Wissam al-Tawil, another senior commander killed in an Israeli strike in January.
The Israeli military has not yet commented on Abdullah’s death.
Violence between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated in recent weeks, with Israel launching offensives in the key southern Gaza city of Rafah. Hezbollah has also increased its attacks, targeting deeper into Israel and introducing new and advanced weaponry.
Israeli drone strikes have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Hezbollah members since the start of the clashes on Oct. 8, near the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Since then, over 400 people have been killed in Lebanon, primarily Hezbollah members. Fatalities also include more than 70 civilians and non-combatants. On the Israeli side, at least 15 soldiers and 10 civilians have lost their lives.
U.N. humanitarian official in central Gaza decries death toll in recent days
NUSEIRAT REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip — A U.N. humanitarian official on the ground in Gaza has decried the significant number of casualties resulting from Israeli forces’ actions in central Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp over the past week.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that nearly 300 Palestinians were killed and around 700 were wounded in an operation to free four Israeli hostages held in Nuseirat, only days after an Israeli strike in the camp killed at least 33 people at a United Nations-run school housing displaced Palestinian families.
“I wish I could tell you this was an unusual week in Gaza, but this type of tragedy occurs frequently during the nine months of conflict,” said Yasmina Guerda, a U.N. OCHA Humanitarian Affairs Officer in Gaza. “Indiscriminate attacks have resulted in the deaths of women, children, mothers, babies, fathers, brothers, and sisters.
“This violence must stop. This war must end,” she emphasized.
The Israeli military contends that its forces faced intense fire and responded accordingly during the complex hostage rescue mission. Israel claims to adhere to international law and attributes civilian casualties to Hamas, which it claims hides among the civilian population.
Residents of the refugee camp witnessed the events with fear and shock.
“Gunshots and explosions everywhere. It’s like doomsday,” expressed Ahmed, a resident who did not provide his full name. His family remained sheltered at home, unable to leave due to the explosive noises and the presence of a drone overhead.
Hamas says it provided mediators with its response to Gaza cease-fire plan with some ‘remarks’
BEIRUT — Hamas stated that it has conveyed its response to the U.S.-backed proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza to Qatari and Egyptian mediators, with certain “remarks” pertaining to the deal.
Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group announced their readiness to “positively deal with the agreement” and expressed their prioritization of achieving a “complete stop” to the conflict.
A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, informed Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen television that the group had “submitted some remarks on the proposal to the mediators.” He did not provide specific details.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministries of Qatar and Egypt mentioned that they are evaluating the response and plan to continue mediating efforts along with the United States until an agreement is reached.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby informed reporters that they are currently evaluating the response delivered by Hamas to Qatar and Egypt.
Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Hamas to accept the proposal, emphasizing that the U.N. Security Council’s endorsement of the agreement signaled global support for the plan.
UN could reconsider role in US-built aid pier if Israel used it for deadly raid, humanitarian chief says
DEAD SEA, Jordan — The U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths stated on Tuesday that allegations on social media suggesting that the U.S.-built pier for aid shipments in Gaza may have been utilized by the Israeli military in a weekend raid that resulted in the deaths of nearly 300 Palestinians would jeopardize future humanitarian engagement in the U.S. aid project if proven true. Both the U.S. and Israel have denied these allegations.
Israeli forces kill 6 Palestinians in northern West Bank near Jenin
JERUSALEM — Israeli forces killed six Palestinians on Tuesday in the northern West Bank village of Kafr Dan, near the city of Jenin, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The Israeli army reported that four militants were killed in a gunbattle and other fighters were wounded in the village. A helicopter strike occurred in the vicinity of a structure where the militants were located. The army stated that four guns were discovered during the operation.
Violence has intensified in Jenin and the surrounding areas in recent years, becoming a hotbed of conflict in the region.
UN chief calls for more aid to Gaza at conference co-hosted by Jordan and Egypt
DEAD SEA, Jordan — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an increase in critical humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza during an international conference co-hosted by Jordan and Egypt. The conference aimed at alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and was attended by leaders such as Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Israel says it will improve facilities at a prison where thousands of Palestinians have been detained during Gaza war
JERUSALEM — Israel announced plans to enhance facilities at the Sde Teiman military prison, where Palestinians taken from Gaza are held, and will relocate the majority of detainees to other facilities, according to state attorneys’ filing on Tuesday. The move comes amidst increasing pressure from human rights organizations to shut down the prison following reports of severe human rights violations.
The military prison has been a central location for detaining Palestinians without trial for prolonged periods since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas war. The state explained that the prison will serve as a screening facility for Palestinians, allowing them to be assessed for potential militant connections before either releasing them back to Gaza or transferring them to the prison system.
US and Israeli officials will meet to discuss threat from Iran, White House official says
WASHINGTON — White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan announced that senior U.S. and Israeli defense and intelligence officials will convene next week to address the ongoing destabilizing threat posed by Iran in the Middle East. The discussions will focus on the shared concerns about the threats by Iran to the region.
Blinken announces more than $400 million in assistance for Palestinians
DEAD SEA, Jordan — Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed more than $400 million in new American humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and neighboring countries. The aid will support vulnerable and displaced Palestinians with various necessities such as food, water, healthcare, education, shelter, and psychosocial support.
An Israeli drone strike killed a public utility worker in southern Lebanon, state news agency says
BEIRUT — An Israeli drone strike claimed the life of a public utility worker in southern Lebanon, according to the state-run National News Agency. The worker was identified as Saleh Ahmad Mehdi and was assisting in water supply operations when he was killed.
Former hostage Noa Argamani released from hospital
TEL AVIV, Israel — Noa Argamani, a well-known Israeli hostage rescued in a deadly raid in Gaza, has been discharged from a Tel Aviv hospital after undergoing physical and psychological examinations. Argamani was held captive by Hamas and emerged as an icon of the hostage crisis. Her release enabled her to reunite with her mother, who was receiving treatment for terminal brain cancer.
U.N. cites possible war crimes by Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups
The U.N. human rights office mentioned possible war crimes by Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in connection with a deadly raid in Gaza that resulted in multiple casualties. The office expressed concerns about violations of international rules by both parties, stating that their actions may amount to war crimes.
Blinken says world supports U.S. ceasefire plan
TEL AVIV, Israel — Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked on the U.N. Security Council’s endorsement of a Gaza cease-fire plan, underscoring that the global support signifies a collective backing for the U.S.-proposed agreement.
4 Israeli soldiers killed in explosion in Rafah
TEL AVIV, Israel — Four Israeli soldiers lost their lives in an explosion in Rafah in southern Gaza, reportedly triggered by explosives they were using for a mission. The explosion caused destabilization, resulting in the collapse of a building and injuries to 11 individuals. Hamas claimed responsibility for the explosion, stating that they had booby-trapped the building.
Hamas commander killed in West Bank clash
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Hamas confirmed the death of one of its commanders, Mohammed Jaber Abdo, in a clash with Israeli forces in a village near Ramallah. A joint statement by the Israeli army and police stated that forces opened fire after suspects in an attack on a nearby settlement attempted to escape in a car. Weapons were discovered in the vehicle.
