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Asharq Al-Awsat
7 days ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel Threatens to Assassinate 4 New Hamas Figures
Israeli security sources revealed on Monday a new Hamas target list that includes the Movement's former representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, and its spokesperson, Sami Abu Zuhri, the Maariv newspaper reported. The new list comes shortly after Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Saturday threated to assassinate senior figures in both the political and military wings of Hamas, including Izz al-Din al-Haddad, commander of Gaza City Brigade, and Khalil al-Hayya, a prominent member of Hamas' political bureau. Under the headline 'Top Hamas leaders in Israeli Army's Sights,' the Maariv newspaper said that following a series of assassinations involving Hamas politburo leaders, Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya al-Sinwar, Israel is now preparing to assassinate four other leaders: Hamdan in Lebanon, Abu Zuhri in Algeria, Izz al-Din al-Haddad in Gaza, and even al-Hayya, a prominent member of Hamas's political bureau, who is abroad leading negotiations. Last Saturday, Israel's Shin Bet threatened in a statement to assassinate al-Hayya and al-Haddad. Katz said: 'Izz al-Din al-Haddad is in Gaza, Khaleel al-Hayya is abroad - you are next,' without providing further details. Since the start of the war on Gaza, Israel has assassinated several Hamas leaders both inside and outside the Strip. On Monday, Maariv confirmed that last month, eight tons of explosives thrown on a Hamas tunnel system that ran underneath the European Hospital in southern Gaza's Khan Younis, has killed Hamas leader in Gaza Muhammad Sinwar and two of his aides, in addition to the commander of the Rafah Brigade in Hamas, Mohammed Shabana, and central Khan Yunis field commander Mahdi Kawareh. 'The arrows are now directed towards al-Haddad, who survived the attack,' the newspaper wrote. Last October, the Israeli army had killed Mohammad Sinwar's brother, Yahya, the leader of Hamas and an early architect of its armed wing. Al-Haddad is dubbed 'The Qassam Ghost' due to his ability to evade capture and survive multiple assassination attempts. In Hebrew, Maariv wrote, 'al-Haddad will meet his companions, (Ismail) Haniyeh, (Mohammed) Deif, and Sinwar.' It said the next targets are Osama Hamdan, Sami Abu Zuhri and Khalil al-Hayya. Hamdan currently oversees negotiations and was the Movement's former representative in Lebanon. Since the start of the war, he served as Hamas spokesperson and resides mostly in Qatar. Abu Zuhri lives in Algeria and is frequently featured in the media while al-Hayyah is the de facto Hamas leader in Gaza, a member of its leadership council, and one of the negotiators for a ceasefire with Israel. Since the confirmed death of Muhammed Sinwar, Israel aims to target the men now emerging as the group's de facto military leaders: al-Haddad, and al-Hayyah. 'It's official: Mohammed al-Sinwar and Rafah Brigade Commander Mohammed Shabana have been eliminated. Israel's long arm will reach every individual responsible for the October 7th war crimes, near or far, until all are eliminated,' Katz said in a statement issued Saturday. Al-Haddad, nicknamed 'Abu Suhaib,' commands the Gaza City Brigade of the Qassam Brigades and sits on Hamas's inner military council. The Israel army believes that following the elimination of senior Hamas leaders, al-Haddad now serves as the Movement's leader in the Strip.
Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Hamas open to full hostage release and five-year Gaza truce, confirms official
A Hamas official confirmed on Saturday that the militant group is open to negotiating a deal to end the ongoing Gaza war, which would involve the one-time release of all remaining hostages and a five-year cessation of hostilities. This statement came as a Hamas delegation was set to meet with mediators in Cairo for fresh talks. 'Hamas is ready for an exchange of prisoners in a single batch and a truce for five years,' the official told AFP. The talks come just days after Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal for a 'partial' ceasefire deal that would have seen the return of 10 living hostages in exchange for a 45-day truce. Hamas' demands for comprehensive ceasefire Since the outbreak of the conflict on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, the group has been consistent in its demand that any ceasefire agreement must address several key issues. These include a complete end to the war, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, a prisoner exchange, and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip. Hamas has also emphasised that disarmament is not part of the discussion, with the group's spokesperson reiterating, 'We will not abandon the resistance's weapons as long as the occupation persists.' In previous discussions, Israel has resisted the notion of a full cessation of hostilities, insisting on a phased approach and seeking the return of all hostages. Hamas has refused any deal that would allow Israel to retain control over Gaza or continue its military operations against the group. Hostage talks The latest round of talks follows several failed ceasefire attempts, including a truce brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States that began on January 19. The deal allowed for a surge in humanitarian aid and the release of hostages, but it collapsed after two months amid disagreements over the terms for the next phase. Hamas had pushed for negotiations that would lead to a permanent end to the war, but Israel wanted to extend the existing terms without making significant concessions. On Thursday, Mossad head David Barnea travelled to Qatar, possibly marking his return to the hostage negotiation table after being demoted from the role two months ago. While Qatar has long been a key mediator, Egypt has taken a more prominent role in the current negotiations, according to The Times of Israel. Hamas's demands remain steadfast, with senior officials stating that a partial ceasefire would not be acceptable. On Saturday, another senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, said that the group would not consider any proposal that does not include a comprehensive and permanent cessation of the war. 'Any proposal that does not include a comprehensive and permanent cessation of the war will not be considered,' Hamdan stated.
Memri
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Top Hamas Officials: No Discussion Of Disarming Us
The issue of the weapons in the possession of Hamas and the other Palestinian terrorist organizations is central in the discussions about Phase II of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, and even in the direct talks held between Hamas and Adam Boehler, the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs. [1] In this context, Hamas officials are reiterating in their many statements in Arabic that the issue of disarming Hamas is not up for negotiation, and that it will continue to adhere to the path of jihad. Moreover, Hamas is denying statements by Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk published by The New York Times on February 24, 2025. He said, when asked about Hamas's weapons, "We are ready to speak about every issue. Any issue that is put on the table, we need to speak about it." He also said that as far as he was concerned, "if it was expected that what happened would happen, there wouldn't have been October 7." [2] The Hamas-affiliated journalist and commentator Ibrahim Al-Madhoun explained Hamas's refusal to disarm, noting that "signing a disarmament document is signing a declaration of surrender." Thus, he said, Hamas will never agree to it. This report will present senior Hamas officials' recent statements on the issue of disarmament: Senior Hamas Official Khaled Mash'al: The Path Of Jihad And Resistance Is The Way; There Is A "Plot" Against Our Weapons At a March 9, 2025 Hamas event in Egypt honoring terrorists released from Israeli prisons and deported abroad as part of Phase I of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, senior Hamas official Khaled Mash'al said that the Palestinians would never disarm as long as they remained under Israeli occupation, and warned of a large "plot" threatening "the future of Gaza, its administration, regime, and weapons, and the resistance force in it." He added: "We say to the leaders of the [Arab] ummah and particularly to dear Egypt – which knows that without October 6 [the 1973 Yom Kippur War] it would not have regained the Sinai – [that] without October 7 [2023] we would not regain Palestine... The path of jihad and resistance is the way to regain the homeland, honor, and freedom, and to free the prisoners... The world respects only the strong." [3] To view this clip on MEMRI TV, click here or below: Senior Hamas Official Muhammad Nazzal: "The Resistance Fought With All Its Might For A Year And A Quarter, And Has Not Handed Over Its Weapons" Similar statements were made by senior Hamas official Muhammad Nazal. He told the Qatar Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed daily on February 26: "We are willing to hand over our weapons when an independent and sovereign Palestinian state is established... The resistance has fought with all its might for a year and a quarter, and has not handed over its weapons. Is it conceivable that what the occupation has not managed [to accomplish] in its genocidal war would happen by means of diplomacy?!..." [4] Senior Hamas Official Osama Hamdan: Hamas's Weapons Are Not Up For Negotiation Osama Hamdan, another top Hamas official, said on February 15: "We will be the ones to determine how to manage our internal affairs... This is why issues such as the weapons of the resistance, the leaders of the resistance, and our relationship with the [countries that] support the resistance are not up for negotiation. It is not that we are clinging to an inflexible position in the talks. It's just that it is not up for discussion. We will not agree to anyone talking to us about it. I say this loud and clear..." To view this clip on MEMRI TV, click here or below: Hamas Official Suhail Al-Hindi: We Won't Hand Over Our Weapons, And We Didn't Even Receive Such An Offer After the U.S. officially acknowledged it s direct talks with Hamas, Suhail Al-Hindi, one of the movement's officials, denied that Hamas ever received a proposal to disarm, and stressed that it would never agree to this. In an interview with the Al-Jazeera Mubasher channel, he said: "The position of Hamas and the resistance factions is that these pure weapons will remain in the hands of the resistance as long as there is an occupation. When there will be a Palestinian state, we will be a part of its military." He added: "Relinquishing the weapons while the occupation still holds our land – that will not happen. This is the final word from the resistance, [from the Hamas military wing, the Izz Al-Din] Al-Qassam Brigades, and from all the resistance's [military] wings. If the occupation leaves forever, we will become a main element of the Palestinian army – we promise that. However, we will not disarm... Everyone knows the position of Hamas and the Palestinian people... We will not wave a white flag, we will not leave our country, and we will not hand over our weapons. No one proposed that we disarm. We will never agree to this, and everyone knows that." [5] Hamas Officials On The Eve Of The Arab League Summit In Cairo: "The Weapons Of The Resistance Are A Red Line" In advance of the Arab League summit in Cairo, on March 4, that was meant to also discuss the issue of Hamas's weapons, Hamas officials stressed that they were absolutely opposed to relinquishing their weapons and the path of terrorism and armed struggle against Israel. Hamas leadership council chairman Muhammad Darwish said on March 1 that Hamas was willing to cooperate with any Arab initiative except one that harmed "our people's steadfast right to resist the occupation." [6] Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on the day of the summit: "The weapons of the resistance are a red line." He added that any discussion of disarming Hamas is "nonsense" and that the issue is "not up for bargaining, discussion, or negotiation." [7] The next day, the summit's concluding statement was released. It did not directly mention the issue of Hamas's weapons, but merely called for international peacekeeping forces to be deployed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in light of the internal disputes within the Arab League. [8] Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi stressed: "The weapons of the resistance are aimed at liberating the State of Palestine, and this is the purpose of their existence." He clarified that once this goal was accomplished, the Palestinian state would be able to determine the fate of the "weapons of the resistance," and added: "We refuse in principle to allow foreign forces of any kind to enter the land of Palestine." [9] Hamas: Statements Attributed To The Hamas Official By The New York Times About Willingness To Discuss Hamas's Weapons Are Incorrect The above statements by Hamas officials completely contradict statements made in English by Hamas official Musa Abu Marzouk as reported by The New York Times on February 24. The paper quotes Abu Marzouq as saying, when asked about Hamas's weapons: "We are ready to speak about every issue. Any issue that is put on the table, we need to speak about it." [10] In Arabic, Hamas officially denied Abu Marzouk's comment, writing in its statement that he had said the opposite to the newspaper: "Abu Marzouk stressed the movement's steadfast position of adhering to our people's right to resistance in all its forms, first and foremost armed resistance, until liberation and the return [of the Palestinians to their homes within Israel]. He clarified that the weapons of the resistance... are aimed at defending our people and our holy places, and that they must not be abandoned or relinquished as long as our land is occupied." It added: "The media statements attributed in that interview to Dr. Musa Abu Marzouk are incorrect and were taken out of context... Dr. Abu Marzouk stressed that the blessed October 7 operation manifested our people's right to resistance and its rejection of siege, occupation, and settlements..." [11] This is not the first time that Hamas has released "moderate" statements in English tailored to a Western audience, and denied them later in Arabic. [12] It appears that Abu Marzouk's words in English were another attempt by Hamas to mislead American and Western public opinion. Hamas: Statements "attributed" to Abu Marzouk by The New York Times "are incorrect" and "were taken out of context" (Source: February 24, 2025) Following The New York Times' publication of Abu Marzouk's statements, other denials were published by Hamas officials. For example, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said: "Hamas zealously retains the right to its weapons of resistance as legitimate weapons. There is no argument about this as long as there is occupation of our Palestinian land. The statements attributed to Dr. Musa Abu Marzouk do not represent Hamas's position... The resistance, in all its forms, will continue to be our people's legitimate right, until the liberation and the return, and the October 7 battle will remain a milestone in the history of all the occupied peoples and a strategic turning point on the path of the national Palestinian struggle." [13] Hamas Official: Hamas Understands That Disarmament Is A Declaration Of Surrender; We Will Not Lay Down Our Arms In an article he posted on his Telegram account following the Arab League summit, journalist and commentator Ibrahim Al-Madhoun, a senior official in Hamas's overseas branch, clarified that Hamas was not willing to relinquish its weapons in any way, shape, or form: "In 1994, Ukraine sat at the [negotiating] table with a document [the Budapest Memorandum] before it, at a time when it had the third [largest] nuclear arsenal in the world. It had been persuaded that security depended not on a finger pressing a button, but on signing the paper... When it returned [to the negotiating table] years later to discuss the signatures, all it found was [Russian] troops invading it, its cities pulverized [by bombing], and the promises [to respect its territorial integrity] evaporated into the air of changing interests. The U.S., that had provided it with 'guarantees'... promised to help [during the Biden administration], and then [in the Trump administration] is making a deal with it for what remains of its resources... "Several years ago, in a different room, Taliban negotiators sat before the Americans. One [of the Americans] asked them if they would lay down their arms. One Taliban member smiled and said, 'These weapons are what brought you to this table, and without them you would not be paying any attention to us at all. How [can] we lay down [our arms]?' "Today, the Israelis are waving the same document and demand that Hamas sign it, lay down its arms, and enter 'a new world' without resistance, without might, and without the ability to respond. They say that peace is based solely on disarmament, and that security [will be attained] only after the Palestinians are stripped of the only means they have to defend themselves. "But history makes no mistakes when it repeats itself. When the Indians [in the U.S.] handed over their swords and bows, then came the massacres that wiped out their existence... Hamas understands this lesson well... It knows that signing the disarmament document means signing a declaration of surrender. Therefore, it says to the Israelis and to the entire world: We will not be new Indians, we will not lay down our arms to be led to slaughter. Weapons created this [military Hamas-Israel] equation, and it will be what protects us..." [14] [1] According to a report in the London-based Qatari daily Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the future of Hamas's weapons was a key issue in the talks held between Boehler and Hamas, and Hamas supposedly agreed to "talk" about its "offensive" weapons – especially missiles and rockets – in exchange for a long-term hudna, or lull, with Israel. However, Hamas stressed that even if a Palestinian state is established, it will not relinquish all of its "resistance weapons." March 10, 2025. [2] February 24, 2025. [3] March 9, 2025; March 10, 2025. [4] February 26, 2025. [5] March 11, 2025. [6] March 1, 2025. [7] March 4, 2025. [8] For a report on the disagreements among the Arab states about this issue in advance of the summit, see: March 2, 2025. [9] March 5, 2025. In this context, Deputy Secretary-General of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Muhammad Al-Hindi said, "It is our right to ask whether the peacekeeping forces will be directed against the occupation or whether their role will be to disarm the resistance," March 4, 2025. [10] February 24, 2025. [11] February 24, 2025. [12] For instance, in an interview with the Al-Monitor website on December 13, 2023, Abu Marzouk "hinted" in English at the possibility that Hamas would recognize the State of Israel, but on the following day he had already asserted in Arabic that the position of the movement regarding this issue had not changed at all. At that time as well, his remarks were received with enthusiasm, and presented as a potential change in policy: "In shift, a top Hamas official floats Israel recognition," December 13, 2023; December 14, 2023. For more on the logical contradictions in Hamas's attempt to present itself as a "pragmatic" organization, see MEMRI Inquiry & Analysis Series No. 1313, Hamas Policy Document: Palestinian State In 1967 Borders Is 'National, Agreed-upon and Joint Formula' By Hamas, PLO – Yet Armed Struggle Will Continue, And Palestine Extends From River To Sea, May 5, 2017. [13] February 24, 2025. [14] March 6, 2025.
Japan Times
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Israeli fire kills two Palestinians in Gaza amid impasse over ceasefire
CAIRO – Israeli fire killed at least two people in Rafah and wounded three others in Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip, raising fears among Palestinians that the ceasefire could collapse altogether after Israel imposed a total blockade on the shattered enclave. A first phase of a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas that began in January ended over the weekend with no agreement on what will happen next. Hamas says an agreed second phase must now begin, leading to a permanent Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war. Israel has, instead, offered a temporary extension into April, with Hamas to release more hostages in return for Palestinian detainees, without immediate talks on Gaza's future. Later on Monday, Hamas official Osama Hamdan said Israel's demand to extend the first phase of the ceasefire was pushing progress back to zero. "The mediators and guarantors bear full responsibility for preventing (Israeli Prime Minister) Netanyahu from sabotaging all efforts made to reach the agreement and for protecting the agreement from collapsing," Hamdan told a news conference.
Express Tribune
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Gaza truce comes under fire
Israeli fire killed at least two people in Rafah and wounded three others in Khan Younis in the south of Gaza, raising fears among Palestinians that the ceasefire could collapse altogether after Israel imposed a total blockade on the shattered enclave. A first phase of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that began in January ended over the weekend with no agreement on what will happen next. Hamas says an agreed second phase must now begin, leading to a permanent Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war. Israel has instead offered a temporary extension into April, with Hamas to release more hostages in return for Palestinian detainees, without immediate talks on Gaza's future. Later on Monday, Hamas official Osama Hamdan said Israel's demand to extend the first phase of the ceasefire was pushing things back to "square zero". "The mediators and guarantors bear full responsibility for preventing (Israeli Prime Minister) Netanyahu from sabotaging all efforts made to reach the agreement and for protecting the agreement from collapsing," Hamdan told a news conference. Two Israeli government officials said mediators had asked Israel for a few more days to resolve the standoff. "Israel has negotiated in good faith since the beginning of this administration to ensure the release of hostages held captive by Hamas terrorists," White House National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said when asked about the aid blockade and ceasefire standoff. "We will support their decision on next steps given Hamas has indicated it's no longer interested in a negotiated ceasefire," Hughes said. Israel raised the stakes on Sunday by imposing a total blockade on all supplies, including food and fuel, meant to sustain the 2.3 million Gazans living among the ruins after the 15-month conflict. Hundreds of lorries carrying supplies were backed up in Egypt and denied permission to enter. Gaza residents said shops had been swiftly emptied of all supplies and the price of a sack of flour had more than doubled overnight. "Where will our food come from?" asked Salah al-Hajj Hassan, a resident in Jabalia, on Gaza's northern edge where families have returned to destroyed homes to live in the rubble. "We are dying, and we don't want war or the alarm bells of displacement or the alarm bells of starving our children." Tanks Firing Residents said Israeli tanks stationed near the eastern and southern borders of Gaza intensified gunfire and tank shelling into the outskirts throughout the night. A Palestinian official with a group allied to Hamas told Reuters a state of alert had been declared among fighters. At least two people were killed by Israeli drone fire in Rafah, and three people were wounded by a helicopter that fired on Khan Younis, medics said. In a statement, the Israeli military said its forces fired at a motorboat in the coastal area of Khan Younis violating security restrictions in the area and posing a threat. The military said in another incident in southern Gaza, its forces identified two suspects who were moving towards them and posing a threat. Israeli forces "fired at the suspects to eliminate the threat and identified casualties," it said. Netanyahu's office said on Sunday it had adopted a proposal by US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, for a temporary ceasefire for Ramadan and Jewish feast of Passover, ending around April 20. The truce would be conditional on Hamas releasing half of the remaining living and dead hostages on the first day, with the remainder released at the conclusion if an agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire
