logo
Hamas Accuses Israel of Obstructing Ceasefire Talks, Urges Immediate Progress

Hamas Accuses Israel of Obstructing Ceasefire Talks, Urges Immediate Progress

Gaza — A senior Hamas official has accused Israeli occupation of deliberately stalling progress in ongoing ceasefire negotiations, despite the movement's acceptance of the latest proposals brokered by international mediators.
In a statement issued Sunday, the official said Hamas had shown flexibility and a willingness to move forward with the deal. At the same time, Israel continued to 'place obstacles' and delay any real progress. 'Every time we move closer to an agreement, the Israeli side finds a way to stall,' he claimed.
Aid and Humanitarian Clauses
The official criticized Israel's insistence on tying humanitarian access to political conditions, calling it 'a catastrophe in itself' to treat food and aid as bargaining tools. Nevertheless, he said Hamas accepted the inclusion of an aid clause in the draft deal 'in the interest of the Palestinian people,' despite not receiving any clear or written terms from the Israeli side.
Withdrawal and Security Guarantees
On the proposed Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the Hamas official said the movement was reviewing the latest drafts 'with urgency' and in consultation with other Palestinian factions. However, he noted that Israel has yet to present an official position on the withdrawal component — a key factor that continues to obstruct the deal's finalization.
He also stressed that clear international guarantees are needed to ensure Israel does not resume military operations after an agreement is reached. 'We want to avoid a repeat of the post-January 19 situation, where violence resumed despite agreements,' he said.
Ongoing Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza
Since Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza on October 7, 2023, over 200,000 Palestinians have been killed or wounded, according to Palestinian sources, with the majority being women and children. More than 9,000 are still missing, while hundreds of thousands have been displaced, many now living in dire conditions under siege.
The official described the situation in Gaza as 'not just a conflict, but a campaign of extermination,' citing widespread famine, infrastructure collapse, and a defiance of International Court of Justice orders to halt the offensive.
Urgent Call for Action
The Hamas official urged the international community to stop allowing Israel to operate with impunity, saying, 'The time for half-measures and political games has long passed. Any further delay in reaching a ceasefire only prolongs the unimaginable human suffering in Gaza.'
He concluded by emphasizing the need for a just and lasting ceasefire, one built not only on the cessation of violence, but on the recognition of Palestinian rights, dignity, and freedom.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=65982
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ekad Reveals Structure of Abu Shabab Militia, Its Role in Gaza Displacement Plan
Ekad Reveals Structure of Abu Shabab Militia, Its Role in Gaza Displacement Plan

Days of Palestine

timea day ago

  • Days of Palestine

Ekad Reveals Structure of Abu Shabab Militia, Its Role in Gaza Displacement Plan

DayofPal– A new investigation by open-source intelligence group Ekad has exposed the internal structure, operations, and foreign backing of the so-called 'Popular Forces' militia, led by Yasser Abu Shabab in Gaza. The militia, composed of convicted criminals and individuals with past ties to extremist networks, has reportedly operated with full coordination from the Israeli military while systematically looting humanitarian aid and enforcing displacement in southern Gaza. The revelations emerge amid mounting outrage over a Wall Street Journal op-ed published under Abu Shabab's name, despite his documented illiteracy, criminal record, and history with drug trafficking and ISIS-linked networks. Critics have accused the paper of providing a platform to a warlord aligned with Israeli occupation objectives during a deepening humanitarian catastrophe that has left over 120 Palestinians dead from famine, most of them children. A Militia Built on Coordination The group's leader, Yasser Abu Shabab, a Rafah native from the Tarabin tribe, was previously imprisoned in Gaza for arms and drug trafficking. He escaped custody during early Israeli airstrikes that targeted police infrastructure and later resurfaced in May 2024 as head of an armed faction reportedly numbering between 100 and 300 fighters. In a televised interview with Israel's KAN News on July 6, Abu Shabab openly declared 'war on Hamas' and confirmed direct coordination with the Israeli military. He also claimed administrative backing from the Palestinian Authority (PA), signaling a calculated attempt to present himself as a post-Hamas governance figure. According to Ekad's findings, the militia has seized the majority of aid entering Gaza in recent months. Between May and October 2024, Abu Shabab's forces reportedly intercepted 80 out of 100 aid convoys and killed at least four truck drivers, according to The Washington Post. The militia also operates armed checkpoints near the Kerem Shalom crossing and is accused of setting up fortified aid distribution zones designed to funnel civilians into Israeli-controlled areas. A Three-Tiered Militia Network Ekad's investigation used satellite imagery, social media analysis, and video geolocation to map out the militia's internal hierarchy: Top Tier: Led by Abu Shabab and his deputy Ghassan Al-Dhahini, a former PA security officer and fugitive with ties to ISIS-aligned Army of Islam. Al-Dhahini has appeared in videos firing weapons near Rafah's Al-Da'wah Mosque, close to key aid depots. Second Tier: Includes armed enforcers like Bakr Al-Wakeely, Youssef Abu Nasser, and Saddam Abu Zakar, seen in tactical gear near aid trucks. Others such as Tarek Abu Hassan and Abu Hassan Al-Tarabini were recorded riding atop looted aid shipments with automatic weapons. Third Tier: Field operatives such as Nimer, Kareem, Aboud Abu Al-Hussain, and the infamous Abu Anis documented themselves looting aid boxes and violently seizing shipments. Videos show them operating freely within Israeli-controlled corridors including the Philadelphia Axis and areas east of Rafah. Israeli Military Backing and the 'Humanitarian Resettlement' Agenda The group's operations are concentrated in zones under Israeli military control, particularly Al-Shawka, Al-Bayouk, and northern Rafah, where Israeli forces have established logistical dominance. These are the same areas referenced by far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who suggested they could serve as a 'temporary concentration zone' for Palestinian civilians. Ekad's analysis concludes that the Abu Shabab militia plays a key role in advancing Israel's broader displacement policy. By weaponizing humanitarian aid, the group controls civilian movement and redirects populations toward Israeli-administered zones under the guise of aid distribution. 'This is not a rogue group,' said a senior Ekad analyst. 'This is a structured proxy force, armed and deployed to enforce an occupation agenda masked in humanitarian terms.' A senior official with UNRWA, Sam Rose, described the militia-dominated corridors as 'the valley of thieves,' underscoring the systematic nature of aid looting in areas of Israeli oversight. Backlash and Warnings Gaza's Ministry of Interior recently issued a 10-day ultimatum for Abu Shabab and his militia to surrender. The Joint Room of Palestinian Factions, representing all armed resistance groups in Gaza, publicly labeled him a traitor. The condemnation prompted Ekad to launch its in-depth investigation, which has since been widely circulated among humanitarian and diplomatic circles. Ekad's researchers confirmed the group's direct coordination with Israeli forces not only through interviews and op-eds, but also by verifying the geolocated presence of militia leaders at Israeli-supervised crossings and aid convoys. Criminal Past and Extremist Ties In addition to Abu Shabab's documented prison escape, multiple militia leaders have verifiable links to extremist and smuggling networks. Issam Al-Nabbahin, another high-ranking member, fought with ISIS in Sinai before fleeing back to Gaza. Though reportedly re-arrested, his current status remains unknown. The investigation concludes that the group os a criminal militia operating with state-level coordination under the pretense of humanitarian service. The Popular Forces, far from being a grassroots security effort, function as an Israeli-backed paramilitary unit with strategic aims: controlling aid, neutralizing Hamas rivals, and facilitating population displacement in southern Gaza. Shortlink for this post:

Hamas Rejects U.S. Claims of Aid Theft
Hamas Rejects U.S. Claims of Aid Theft

Days of Palestine

timea day ago

  • Days of Palestine

Hamas Rejects U.S. Claims of Aid Theft

DaysofPal— Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq strongly rejected recent accusations from U.S. officials alleging that the group has stolen humanitarian aid intended for civilians in the Gaza Strip. In an official statement Saturday, Rishq said: 'The allegations about Hamas stealing aid are politically motivated and baseless.' The remarks come in response to unverified U.S. claims and media reports, which have fueled the creation of a controversial armed aid operation. That effort, according to humanitarian groups, has resulted in more than 1,000 deaths among desperate Palestinians seeking food. A U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) study — not made public — reportedly investigated 156 incidents of lost or stolen aid between October 2023 and May 2025. It found no evidence that Hamas benefited from any U.S.-supplied assistance. The findings contradict the long-held narratives by Israeli and American officials used to justify restrictions on aid and the armed delivery operations. Rishq criticized Washington's stance as a distraction from 'the real obstacle to any ceasefire or humanitarian agreement: the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.' 'These statements by (US President Donald) Trump and (US presidential envoy for the Middle East Steve) Witkoff do not align with the assessments of the mediators and contradict the reality of the negotiation process,' he said. He emphasized Hamas' consistent engagement in the talks 'with full national responsibility and flexibility' and its commitment to achieving 'a comprehensive agreement that ends the aggression and alleviates the suffering' of Gaza's population. 'We insisted that the agreement must ensure the clear and protected flow of humanitarian aid through the UN and its recognized agencies without any interference by the occupation,' Rishq stated. He also noted that Hamas' recent proposal included a 'positive and flexible approach' to all key points, especially on aid delivery and the reduction of Israeli buffer zones inside Gaza, particularly near crowded residential areas, to allow displaced families to return. Rishq urged Washington to 'stop shielding the occupation' and end its 'military and political cover for Israel's ongoing war of extermination and starvation' in Gaza. He called on the U.S. administration to take a 'constructive role' in pressuring the Israeli government to seriously pursue a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal. Since the beginning of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023, more than 59,600 Palestinians — mostly women and children — have been killed. The assault has decimated the enclave's health care system and plunged its population into famine. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel also stands trial at the International Court of Justice on charges of genocide. Shortlink for this post:

UNRWA Rejects Israeli, GHF Accusations Amid Gaza Famine
UNRWA Rejects Israeli, GHF Accusations Amid Gaza Famine

Days of Palestine

timea day ago

  • Days of Palestine

UNRWA Rejects Israeli, GHF Accusations Amid Gaza Famine

DaysofPal- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has strongly rejected recent accusations from the Israeli government and the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation GHF, calling them a 'smear campaign' designed to shift blame for the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. The controversy erupted after the Israeli Government Advertising Agency released a video claiming that 'while Israel cleared hundreds of trucks that crossed into Gaza, the UN refuses to distribute the aid. These trucks stand idle inside Gaza next to growing stockpiles of supplies. This is deliberate sabotage by the UN.' UNRWA firmly denied the accusations, calling them baseless and misleading. Juliette Touma, the agency's Director of Communications, stated that the claims are 'a distraction from the real issue: Israel's obstruction of aid access.' She emphasized that there are no idle trucks in Gaza and that the UN is doing everything it can to distribute aid under extremely challenging conditions. 'The challenge is not distribution, it's getting safe, consistent access under military restrictions and ongoing conflict,' she said. The accusations come as Gaza descends deeper into famine, whereas the UN and multiple international organizations have described the situation as a 'constructed and deliberate famine,' pointing to systemic barriers imposed by Israeli occupation on humanitarian movements. Reports indicate that more than half of UN aid missions were blocked or delayed between May and July due to Israeli military procedures and a lack of access clearances. In some cases, aid convoys had to be halted because of looting, which UN officials say would not occur if sufficient aid were allowed in regularly. UNRWA also criticized the GHF, a recently launched aid mechanism supported by Israel and the U.S., arguing that it undermines neutral humanitarian work. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described the GHF model as 'politicized, chaotic, and dangerous,' claiming that its aid distribution is selective, sometimes excluding individuals based on biometric data or alleged affiliations. 'This is not humanitarian aid. It's a tool of control,' said Lazzarini. The international response has been one of growing alarm, where organizations including the World Food Program, WHO, UNICEF, and over 115 NGOs have condemned the conditions in Gaza and urged for unimpeded humanitarian access. UNICEF officials warned that children are dying of starvation in real time, and UN staff on the ground report that even their workers are collapsing from hunger. 'It's not just that people are hungry,' one UN source said. 'The humanitarian system is on the verge of collapse.' Several European countries have called for emergency intervention, describing the crisis as 'a man-made disaster of unprecedented scale.' With Gaza's civilian population teetering on the brink, UNRWA is calling for global solidarity and for aid operations to be allowed to proceed based on humanitarian, not political, priorities. 'This is not the time for blame games. It is time for immediate, unhindered humanitarian action.' said Touma. Shortlink for this post:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store