Hamas Leader Accuses Israel of Sabotaging Gaza Ceasefire Talks
Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, accused Israel on Tuesday of "sabotaging" ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip with its operation launched Monday before dawn against Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital, according to Agerpres.
He stated in a formal communication that the action of the Israeli forces at the Al-Shifa medical complex confirms their intent to prevent any resumption of decent life in Gaza and to destroy essential infrastructure. Additionally, he added that this also reveals their desire to sabotage the ongoing negotiations in Doha and perpetuate violence.
Haniyeh called for the cessation of aggression, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the return of displaced persons.
These statements were made amidst discussions underway in Doha regarding a six-week ceasefire and an exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners.
The Israeli army launched a large-scale operation against Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital early Monday morning, the largest hospital complex in Palestinian territory. It claimed on Tuesday to have killed "dozens" of Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters in the hospital complex and its surroundings and to have arrested "over 300 suspects" during this ongoing operation.
Since Monday, hundreds of civilians have been forced to flee the bombed sector.
Israeli forces previously assaulted Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital on November 15 before withdrawing.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
