Agreement on ceasefire in Gaza on the brink – the night update without photos Drivers allegedly deliberately drove into a group of people in Poland

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is demanding Hamas give in before further negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of more hostages in the Gaza war. First, the Islamist organizations must submit, as requested, a list of the names of the hostages still under their control, the right-wing head of government said in a speech in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening. On the same day, delegations from Hamas and the mediating states the US and Qatar arrived in Cairo for a new round of talks. Israel, on the other hand, has not sent a delegation for the time being. Meanwhile, the fact that Benny Gantz, minister in Israel’s war cabinet, traveled to Washington for talks without Netanyahu’s permission, sparked sharp internal criticism, Israeli media said. Gantz is pushing for a deal and has said the release of the hostages is more urgent and important than Netanyahu’s goal of destroying Hamas.

Netanyahu: Will not capitulate to Hamas’s misleading demands

Netanyahu said it was too early to say whether there would be a draft deal in the coming days. “We are making great efforts to be successful, but one thing is clear to you: we will not capitulate to Hamas’ misleading demands,” affirmed the head of government, who is under pressure at home over the hostage issue. He also first wants to know whether Hamas agrees to the number of Palestinian prisoners mentioned in the mediators’ latest proposal that should be released in exchange for hostages. Netanyahu said he had not yet received answers to his questions and rejected “international pressure to end the war” before Israel had achieved all its goals. Recently, media reports said that 40 hostages could be exchanged for 400 Palestinians in Israeli prisons.

Report: Hamas leader wants to sabotage negotiations

According to local media reports, there are doubts in Israeli circles as to whether an agreement on the release of hostages and a ceasefire will be reached before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins around March 10 . Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, Jihia al-Sinwar, is deliberately trying to sabotage negotiations to provoke unrest in the Middle East during Ramadan, the Israeli news site Ynet quoted a senior Israeli official as saying on Sunday evening. “Sinwar prefers to escalate tensions in the Middle East and cause bloodshed and chaos in the Gaza Strip during Ramadan than to opt for the alternative of a six-week ceasefire and humanitarian aid , which would significantly alleviate the suffering of the local population in the Gaza Strip. the officer said.

High-level talks in Washington

Israeli Defense Minister Joav Galant recently said that Hamas wanted to bring the war from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank.

According to the news portal ‘Axios’, US President Joe Biden on Sunday urged Egypt and Qatar to convince Hamas to enforce a temporary ceasefire before Ramadan. The three mediating states agree that reaching an agreement currently depends on Hamas. Hamas calls for a comprehensive ceasefire. According to US information, the mediator’s proposal only provides for a six-week ceasefire. An unnamed Israeli official was quoted by Axios as saying he believes the chances of an agreement are 50-50.

Meanwhile, Israeli War Cabinet member Benny Gantz arrived in Washington on Sunday, where he plans to meet with US Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday. Gantz said in January: “The most urgent matter is the return of the hostages, which is more important than any part of the battle.” According to media reports, the Israeli politician plans to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday. According to Axios, Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is also expected in Washington on the same day.

Harris calls the situation in Gaza a “humanitarian catastrophe”

US Vice President Harris described conditions for people in the Gaza Strip, which has been under fighting for about five months, as inhumane and called it a humanitarian catastrophe. “Our hearts break … for all the innocent people in Gaza who are suffering what is clearly a humanitarian catastrophe,” Harris said Sunday in Selma, Alabama.

Harris called on the Israeli government to allow significantly more aid into the closed coastal area and to open new border crossings.

The Israeli army reports more deaths during operations in the Gaza Strip

Meanwhile, the Israeli army continues its fight against Hamas, saying it has now killed a prominent member of the Islamists responsible for recruiting terrorists. The military announced on Sunday evening that Mahmoud Muhammad Abd Khad was also involved in raising funds for terrorism and supporting Hamas’ military activities. The army had previously announced that “more than 100 terrorists” had been killed in northern Gaza. In addition, 35 Hamas and Islamic Jihad facilities, including weapons depots and production facilities, were destroyed. “Dozens of terrorists” were arrested. All information provided by the Israeli military could not be independently verified.

Israel’s army: Hezbollah positions attacked again

Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it was again attacking positions of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon. Warplanes hit a military facility of the Shiite militia in the area of ​​Aita ash-Sha’b and terrorist infrastructure in the area of ​​the Lebanese border town of Kfarkela, the army said on Sunday evening. During the day, a number of rockets were fired from Lebanon towards northern Israel. This information also could not be independently verified. Since the start of the Gaza war, there have been repeated shellings in the Israeli-Lebanese border area. Israeli Defense Minister Galant recently announced that he would increase military pressure on Hezbollah until the Shiite militia withdrew from the border with Israel. (rbu/sda/dpa)