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 the Gaza Strip, believing that it was premature to talk about an agreement on a truce. A draft 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.
An agreement still under discussion. From Beirut, Osama Hamdane confirmed that the Palestinian movement had received the truce proposal. “We can’t yet talk about an agreement” he said. After reviewing the terms of this agreement, “we will announce our position which will be based on (…) our desire to put an end to the aggression against our people as quickly as possible”he added.
Antony Blinken on diplomatic tour. Lhe 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.
Fears of an offensive in Rafah. The Israeli army once again shelled the Gaza Strip on Saturday. Dozens of people have been killed while the city of Rafah shelters more than a million displaced Palestinians. The Hamas Ministry of Health announced on Sunday a death toll of 27,365 since the start of the war.