The ceasefire brokered by the US in Gaza is facing significant challenges, with Hamas signaling a potential withdrawal from the agreement. This development follows tensions between Hamas and Israel regarding who might have first violated the fragile truce.
Representatives from Hamas conveyed to US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that, according to them, the ceasefire is “over,” and they are “prepared to fight,” as reported by Saudi state media Al Arabiya.
The terrorist group expressed dissatisfaction with what they perceive as a prolonged unilateral ceasefire in Gaza and asserted that the region “will not become a second Lebanon.”
Hamas’s frustration appears to have intensified following Israeli attacks over the prior two days, which included the deaths of two Hamas commanders during a strike on Saturday. They labeled these actions a clear breach of the ceasefire.
Conversely, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) accused Hamas of “blatantly” violating the agreement, claiming that one of the Palestinian gunmen ventured into the humanitarian zone and opened fire on Hamas forces.
In light of concerns about the stability of the agreement negotiated during President Trump’s administration, a Hamas spokesperson attempted to downplay the situation.
“It is not true that Hamas informed Witkoff that the agreement has ended,” asserted Hamas spokesman Ezzat al-Rishek, speaking to the Palestinian Quds Network. “We called on mediators and the US government to intervene and ensure Israel adheres to the agreement.”
Al-Rishek further indicated that Hamas is urging intermediaries to pressure Israel into revealing the identity of the Hamas gunman whom the IDF claimed was responsible for breaching the ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid the blame for the ceasefire’s fragility squarely at the feet of terrorist groups. “Israel has fully complied with the ceasefire, but Hamas has not,” Netanyahu’s office stated, accusing “dozens” of Hamas operatives of infiltrating the Israeli side of the withdrawal line since the ceasefire commenced.
The Times of Israel noted that the White House backed the Israeli offensive following what US officials described as a prior violation of the truce by Hamas, which the group’s leadership claimed had failed to control their operatives in Gaza.
Reports indicate that strikes along the Gaza Strip have persisted almost daily since the historic agreement was established on October 10, with Israel conducting a new operation against Hamas that reportedly resulted in 27 fatalities on Thursday. The IDF contended that Hamas has been testing military border areas “every day.”
The Hamas-controlled local health ministry claims that 307 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire began, without differentiating between fighters and civilians.
The IDF alleges that Hamas has repeatedly breached the agreement by crossing the designated “Yellow Line,” which is marked by yellow blocks and paint, effectively bisecting the Palestinian enclave.
Since the ceasefire took effect, there have been at least three major conflicts along this line, including one that resulted in the deaths of two IDF soldiers.
The White House has yet to issue a statement regarding the reports about the collapse of the deal; however, a US official informed an Israeli news outlet that although Hamas hasn’t formally withdrawn, they have made it clear that they cannot tolerate any further Israeli attacks.
This situation escalated when Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya arrived in Cairo on Saturday with a delegation, reportedly to consult with Arab nations on how to “strengthen the Palestinian position against Israel,” as stated by a Hezbollah-affiliated news outlet, Al-Mayadeen.
