A senior Hamas official in Lebanon, Osama Hamdane, affirmed on Saturday February 3, during a press conference, that his movement was open to any discussion that would put an end to “aggression” Israeli in Gaza, believing that it was premature to talk about an agreement on a truce. A draft truce agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement, drawn up by Qatari, American and Egyptian mediators, notably provides for the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners incarcerated by Israel. Follow our live stream.
“A framework agreement”. “Hamas reiterated its readiness to discuss any initiative (…) which would put an end to the barbaric aggression against our Palestinian people in Gaza”, assured Osama Hamdane from Beirut. He confirmed that his movement had received the truce proposal, but details were missing, according to him. This “proposal is a framework agreement which needs to be studied (…) We cannot yet speak of an agreement”. After examination, “we will announce our position which will be based on (…) our desire to put end the aggression against our people as quickly as possible.”he added.
Blinken’s diplomatic tour. On the diplomatic front, American Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to the Middle East on Sunday to support negotiations on a new truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, at war for nearly four months. He is due to travel to Qatar, Egypt, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Saudi Arabia.
New Israeli strikes. The Israeli army once again shelled the Gaza Strip on Saturday where dozens of people were killed, with fears growing over a possible military offensive against the overcrowded town of Rafah which is home to more than a million people. displaced Palestinians.