Hamas says Trump’s rhetoric helps Israel to tighten Gaza siege, risking hunger for two.3 million residents.
United States President Donald Trump’s repeated threats in opposition to Hamas represent assist for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to evade the phrases of the Gaza ceasefire and intensify the siege of the strip, the Palestinian armed group says.
“Trump’s repeated threats in opposition to our individuals characterize assist to Netanyahu to evade the settlement and tightens the siege and hunger in opposition to our individuals,” Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanou mentioned on Thursday, the Reuters information company reported.
“One of the best observe to launch the remaining Israeli prisoners is by … going into the second part and compelling it [Israel] to stick to the settlement signed underneath the sponsorship of mediators,” he mentioned.
Al-Qanou’s feedback got here after Trump issued a flurry of social media posts on Wednesday, demanding Hamas “launch the entire hostages now, not later,” together with the stays of lifeless captives, “or it’s OVER for you.”
“I’m sending Israel every thing it wants to complete the job, not a single Hamas member shall be secure if you happen to don’t do as I say,” he mentioned. “Additionally, to the Folks of Gaza: A stupendous Future awaits, however not if you happen to maintain Hostages. If you happen to do, you’re DEAD! Make a SMART determination. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”
The posts have been despatched after a White Home spokesperson confirmed {that a} US envoy held direct talks with Hamas, a transfer that signalled a departure from a decades-long US coverage of not negotiating with the group, which Washington considers a “terrorist” organisation.
Egyptian safety officers confirmed to Reuters on Thursday that talks between a Trump envoy and Hamas have been additionally attended by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
The Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which got here into impact in January, requires the remaining captives held in Gaza to be freed in a second part of the truce, throughout which remaining plans could be negotiated for an finish to the battle.
The primary part of the ceasefire ended on Saturday, and Israel has since imposed a blockade on all items coming into Gaza, demanding that Hamas launch the remaining captives with out starting the negotiations to finish the battle.
Palestinians say the blockade might result in hunger among the many 2.3 million individuals dwelling in Gaza’s ruins.
Palestinians in Gaza criticised Trump’s newest remarks, which adopted his name for residents of the tiny coastal enclave to be resettled elsewhere and for the territory to be developed as a “Center East Riviera”.
“My home is gone, my work is gone, however I cannot enable Trump to displace us,” Mohamed Abou Azb, a resident of Khan Younis, advised Al Jazeera. “We’re rooted on this land, rooted in Khan Younis, rooted in Gaza. Our life and demise are right here. We is not going to bow to the trivia being mentioned, and we is not going to go away Gaza.”
Abdallah Abu Rizk, additionally a resident of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, mentioned Palestinians would by no means go away. “Over time, we have now remained steadfast in Gaza, the occupied West Financial institution and East Jerusalem. We are going to stay till we die in our land.”
