Hamas to Israel and the US: ‘We do not accept threats, respect agreement’

Netanyahu issues ultimatum, talks in the balance in Cairo. North Korea also attacks Trump on Gaza plan

Hamas warned that it will not accept threats from Israel and the US and demanded compliance with ceasefire agreements to proceed with the release of Israeli hostages. ‘Israel must abide by the terms of the understanding,’ said the group’s spokesman, Hazem Qassem.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that if Hamas does not return the hostages by Saturday noon, the IDF will resume its military offensive ‘until the final defeat’ of the group. The PM also confirmed that he had already ordered troops to be assembled in and around the Gaza Strip with a view to a possible resumption of fighting.

Donald Trump also intervened on the issue, warning that if Hamas does not respect the agreement, ‘all hell will break loose’. The Palestinian group announced a postponement ‘until a date to be defined’ of the release of the hostages, accusing Israel of violating the terms of the truce.

Negotiations underway in Cairo, tension over ceasefire

A Hamas delegation, led by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Cairo for new talks with Egyptian mediators. According to Palestinian sources quoted by AFP, Qatar and Egypt are working hard to maintain the truce and ensure compliance with the agreement, while the United States is closely monitoring developments.

Egypt has stated that it will present a plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, stressing that it does not envisage the relocation of the Palestinian population. Cairo also expressed its willingness to work with Washington for a long-term solution in the region.

The UN plan for the reconstruction of Gaza

According to a UN report, at least USD 53 billion will be needed to restore infrastructure and address the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip after more than a year of war. The UN has estimated that around $20.5 billion will be needed for the most urgent needs in the first three months.

Priorities include the reconstruction of housing, with at least 60 per cent of homes destroyed, and the rehabilitation of the health sector, agriculture and essential services such as water and transport. In addition, it is estimated that over 50 million tonnes of debris will have to be removed, including unexploded ordnance and hazardous materials.

The reaction of the Arab world: ‘Palestine not for sale’

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated that ‘Palestine is not for sale’ and thanked Arab countries, including Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, for their support for the Palestinian cause.

Jordan reiterated that it will not accept solutions that involve the displacement of Palestinians to its territory. Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan said that King Abdullah II had made it clear to Trump that Jordan’s stability was a priority and that ‘solutions at the expense of our country’ would not be accepted.

The Arab League also rejected the idea of a forced relocation of Palestinians, with Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit calling Trump’s proposal ‘unacceptable to the Arab world, which has fought this idea for a century’.

North Korea attacks Trump: ‘ridiculous proposal’

Finally, North Korea harshly criticised the American position on the Gaza crisis. North Korean state media called Trump’s idea of occupying Gaza and relocating the Palestinians elsewhere ‘ridiculous’. According to the KCNA news agency, this proposal would ‘annihilate the Palestinian people’s hopes for peace and security’ and would ‘make the whole world boil over’. Pyongyang also accused the US of being ‘complicit’ in the ongoing humanitarian crisis.