GAZA: The Palestinian resistance group Hamas on Wednesday urged Palestinians to march to Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque at the start of the holy month of Ramadan, intensifying negotiations for a truce in Gaza.
The announcement by Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh follows remarks made by US President Joe Biden, who stated on Tuesday that there was a preliminary agreement for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group during Ramadan, contingent upon the release of hostages.
President Biden expressed hope that a comprehensive agreement, which would also facilitate increased aid to the besieged Palestinian enclave and the release of Palestinian prisoners, could be finalized by March 4, just ahead of the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on March 10.
While Israel and Hamas have downplayed the prospects for a truce, Qatari mediators have indicated that critical issues remain unresolved. Israel recently announced it would allow Ramadan prayers at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, even though with restrictions based on security concerns.
Hamas to Challenge Israeli Control Over Al-Aqsa Mosque
Haniyeh emphasized that the call to march to Al-Aqsa Mosque from Jerusalem and the West Bank since the first day of Ramadan aims to assert Palestinian rights and challenge Israeli control over the holy site. He portrayed the Palestinian resistance group’s actions, including the October 7 incursion into Israel, as efforts to halt Israeli aggression against Palestinian territories.
Despite signaling flexibility in negotiations with Israel, Haniyeh affirmed Hamas’s readiness to continue fighting if necessary. Israel has insisted that any agreement with the Palestinian resistance group must involve the abandonment of what it deems “outlandish demands.”
Amid ongoing talks facilitated by mediators in Qatar, a proposal for a 40-day ceasefire has been put forward, marking the potential for the first extended truce in the five-month-long conflict. However, significant issues remain unresolved, including the Palestinian resistance group’s demand for a permanent end to hostilities, Israeli withdrawal, and the fate of Israeli detainees.
While a senior source close to the negotiations indicated that Israeli troops would withdraw from populated areas as part of the agreement, the proposed ceasefire does not fully meet Hamas’s demands.
