Israeli army bombards southern Gaza as Hamas is to discuss draft ceasefire
The Israeli army bombards the south of the Gaza Strip on Friday, while a Hamas delegation is expected in Egypt to discuss a ceasefire project, reports Agerpres.ro.
During the night of Thursday into Friday, Israeli forces stepped up attacks on the Gaza Strip, especially in Rafah, where Palestinians search for survivors in piles of rubble. "We were sitting quietly and suddenly we heard a loud explosion and debris started falling on us. The apartment was completely destroyed and my daughters were screaming. There were several victims (...) we are trying to get the neighbors out from under the rubble, but they are martyrs," said journalist Tayseer Abou Al-Eish. A Hamas delegation is expected in Cairo on Friday to discuss a three-step Egyptian plan that calls for a renewable truce, the phased release of Palestinian hostages and prisoners, and eventually a ceasefire to end hostilities.
In Cairo, the Hamas delegation will deliver to the Egyptians "the response of the Palestinian factions, which includes several observations on their plan," said a Hamas official who requested anonymity.
These remarks relate in particular to "the modalities of the planned exchanges, the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released and the obtaining of guarantees for a total withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip," the official added.
The population of Gaza remains "in great danger", the World Health Organization (WHO) warns, stating that "hunger and despair" are worsening in the territory where, according to the UN, almost two million people (85% of the population) have been displaced.
Humanitarian aid, whose entry is controlled by Israel, is only entering in very limited quantities, despite a December 22 vote on a Security Council resolution.
Israel on Thursday announced its agreement "in principle" with Cyprus to open a humanitarian maritime corridor between the island and the besieged Palestinian territory.
