There has been NO resumption of fighting….
The Arab countries would like an agreement that would keep Gaza’s resident’s THERE….
The GOAL for EVERYONE except Hamas?
IS to have Hamas put down its arms and LEAVE Gaza….
THAT IS gonna be tough thing to achieve ….
Hamas has accused Donald Trump of seeking to undermine the shaky pause in hostilities in Gaza with his latest intervention in the region: a new and fierce ultimatum telling the group to release all hostages.
The militant Islamist organisation said Trump’s threats constituted support for attempts by the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to back out of the ceasefire agreement.
“These threats complicate matters … and encourage [Israel] to avoid implementing its terms,” the Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasim said in a statement on Thursday.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Trump told Hamas to “release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you”.
Fighting in Gaza has been halted since 19 January under a truce arranged with US support and Qatari and Egyptian mediators, and Hamas has exchanged 25 living Israeli hostages and five Thais for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The remains of eight dead Israeli hostages have also been returned.
However, the first phase of the ceasefire ended on Saturday and talks on the second phase have stalled.
The US president’s post came hours after the White House confirmed the US had entered direct negotiations with Hamas, potentially bypassing Israel to secure the release of US hostages still held by the group.
Official Israeli reaction to that development was limited to a single-sentence statement late on Wednesday stating that “Israel has expressed to the US its position regarding direct talks with Hamas”….
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Trump’s ultimatum followed a White House meeting between the US president and a group of hostages recently released by Hamas.
Israel wants to prolong the ceasefire, securing the release of hostages but without reaching a final agreement with Hamas on ending the war. Hamas wants to move immediately to the agreed second stage of the ceasefire where the sides would negotiate a definitive end to the fighting…
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Trump reiterated his support for Israel and referred to a recent decision to provide billions more in support for Israeli arms sales. “I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say,” Trump wrote.
“This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.” He added: “Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY…
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Many analysts have warned that Netanyahu had little intention of maintaining the agreement because a definitive end to the conflict could threaten his hold on political power within Israel.
With Trump in the White House, Netanyahu and his close advisers may also believe they can secure better terms or even the release of more hostages without major concessions….
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