WASHINGTON: The Hamas militant group is accountable for the renewed fighting in Gaza after rejecting efforts to maneuver ahead with what had been an “acceptable deal,” US particular envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned on Sunday (Mar 23), whilst he mentioned he can be open to new outreach.
“So that is on Hamas. The USA stands with the state of Israel,” Witkoff instructed Fox Information. “Hamas had each alternative to demilitarize, to simply accept the bridging proposal.”After weeks of relative calm within the Gaza Strip, following a ceasefire deal reached in January, makes an attempt to agree an extension of the halt in combating stalled and Israel resumed its air strikes and deployed floor troops in areas throughout the strip.
Palestinian well being authorities say tons of have been killed within the newest strikes.
Witkoff’s “bridge” plan, introduced earlier in March, aimed to increase the ceasefire into April, past the vacations of Ramadan and Passover, to permit time for negotiations on a everlasting cessation of hostilities.
“Would we be amenable to a attain out from Hamas? In fact, we’d be – no completely different than within the Russian battle (in Ukraine). We wish to finish the killing, however we should be clear who the aggressor is right here, and that’s Hamas,” he mentioned. Israel launched its marketing campaign in Gaza after Hamas attacked Israeli communities across the strip on Oct 7, 2023, killing some 1200 individuals, in response to an Israeli tally, and abducting 251 others as hostages.
No less than 50 021 Palestinians have been killed and 113 274 wounded because the begin of the conflict, the Palestinian well being ministry mentioned in an announcement.
