Hamas announced on Sunday its withdrawal from negotiations on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli army bombed a new school sheltering displaced people, the fifth in eight days, killing at least 15 people according to the Palestinian Civil Defense.
Hamas’ decision to walk away from the talks came a day after a deadly Israeli strike targeted the Palestinian Islamist movement’s military leader Mohamed Deif and killed one of his associates, according to Israel.
A Hamas official said Deif was alive, “well” and “directly supervising operations.”
Another Hamas official told AFP of the movement’s decision to withdraw from indirect negotiations for a ceasefire with Israel conducted via the mediating countries Qatar, Egypt and the United States, denouncing Israeli “massacres” “against unarmed civilians.”
PHOTO EYAD BABA, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Palestinians view the damage caused by Israeli bombing of the UNRWA-run Abu Araban school, which has been converted into a shelter for displaced Palestinians in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
Hamas “is, however, ready to resume negotiations” when Israel “shows seriousness, to conclude a ceasefire agreement” associated with an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for hostages held in Gaza since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
On Sunday, the Israeli army again bombed a school run by UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, which was sheltering displaced people in the Nusseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip, claiming to have “hit terrorists”.
According to her, the building “served as a hideout” and a base for “attacks” against Israeli troops.
The bombing of the Abu Arabane school building, “which shelters thousands of displaced people, left 15 dead”, mainly women and children, declared the spokesman for the Civil Defense, Mahmoud Basal.
Witnesses reported casualties while an AFP correspondent saw the devastated building and groups of survivors gathered in the debris-strewn courtyard.
PHOTO ARCHIVES AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif
The day before, according to Hamas, Israeli strikes killed 92 Palestinians in the al-Mawasi displaced persons camp, near Khan Younis, in the south of the territory.
Israel said it had targeted Mohammed Deif and Rafa Salama, the Hamas commander in Khan Younis, in the Khan Younis area, presented as “two masterminds of the October 7 massacre.”
Rafa Salama was killed in the strike, the army announced on Sunday, presenting him as one of “Mohammed Deif’s close accomplices.”
Mohammed Deif is the man who announced in a recording released by Hamas on the morning of October 7 the start of the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation against Israel. He escaped at least six assassination attempts before Saturday’s strike.
“Endless massacre”
Israel has drawn international criticism for its attacks on schools in the Gaza Strip, with France and Germany calling for an investigation.
The government of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called on Sunday not to remain silent in the face of an “endless massacre.”
PHOTO BASHAR TALEB, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
View of the al-Mawasi displaced persons camp
The war was triggered by the unprecedented attack carried out on October 7 by Hamas in southern Israel, which resulted in the death of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli data.
Of the 251 people abducted, 116 are still being held in Gaza, 42 of whom are dead, according to the army.
In response, Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, and launched an offensive that has so far killed 38,584 people, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-led Gaza government’s health ministry.
At least 141 people were killed in 24 hours, the ministry announced on Sunday, one of the highest tolls in several weeks.
An UNRWA official described witnessing “some of the most horrific scenes” since the start of the war at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis.
“I saw toddlers with double amputations, children who were paralyzed and unable to receive treatment,” said Scott Anderson, UNRWA’s deputy humanitarian coordinator and director of affairs in Gaza.
AFP footage from Al-Mawasi showed remains of burnt tents, blankets and pieces of foam mattresses scattered around.
Hamas denounced a “horrible massacre” in this sector, declared several months ago a “humanitarian zone” by Israel, where displaced civilians had been invited to regroup.
“The strike was carried out in a fenced area managed by Hamas” and “most of the victims were terrorists,” the army defended itself.
The operation sent “a message of deterrence” to Israel’s enemies and helped weaken Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Meanwhile, the army continued operations in the Rafah area in the south and in Gaza City in the north, where it said it had “eliminated several terrorists in close combat.” One bombing raid killed two people in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, according to the Civil Defense.
Hard blow for negotiations
After months of fruitless negotiations, Hamas’ withdrawal is a major blow to mediators’ efforts to broker a truce in the besieged territory.
The diplomatic marathon had just been relaunched after a concession from Hamas, which had agreed to negotiate on the release of hostages in the absence of a permanent ceasefire with Israel.
On Saturday, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh accused Mr Netanyahu of seeking to block a ceasefire with “heinous massacres”.
The Prime Minister has always said he wants to continue the war until the destruction of Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union, and the release of all hostages.