The U.S. President’s special envoy to the Middle East has called Hamas’s latest response to the proposed temporary ceasefire plan unacceptable.
In reaction to the U.S. proposal for a ceasefire, Hamas has demanded a complete halt to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and guarantees for a permanent ceasefire.
Amid these political wranglings, it is the Palestinian people who continue their lives daily under skies filled with Israeli drones and the sounds of explosions.
Mu’tasim, a resident of Gaza, said: “We have suffered; we have died from hunger. No one cares about us. No Arab cares about us. We hope that God will deliver us from this war.”
Meanwhile, around newly established humanitarian aid distribution centers in Gaza, people stand in line for hours but often return empty-handed without receiving any assistance. At times, they are even fired upon.
Na’im Hazoun, a displaced Palestinian, said: “We came here today but found nothing. Yesterday, some aid was distributed; but today, we were here from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and no one received anything. The army even fired at us.”
Mu’ti Al-Bass, another displaced Palestinian, said: “The situation is extremely dire. The price of flour has become so high that people cannot afford it. For that reason, despite the dangers, we came from northern Gaza, but all of us returned empty-handed without receiving any aid.”
Under these circumstances, Hamas has proposed that the release of prisoners should occur in three stages during the ceasefire period and that humanitarian aid should be distributed across a wider area of Gaza.
However, Israel deems Hamas’s demands for a cessation of the war and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza unacceptable.
