Gaza border post closed after attack, Israel bans Al Jazeera channel | War Israel and Hamas

The Hamas delegation that had been in Cairo since Saturday for ceasefire negotiations in Gaza left on Sunday. The delegation will return to Egypt on Tuesday to “complete negotiations on a ceasefire in the war with Israel.”

Israel and Hamas have both emphasized their desire for a ceasefire during ceasefire talks in Cairo. But in the meantime they also hold on to their own positions.

Israel wants to reach a temporary truce in which Israeli hostages can be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. But Hamas wants an end to the war in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he cannot agree to Hamas’s demand, while Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh believes it is Israel’s fault that fighting continues.

Netanyahu says an agreement ending the war would mean Hamas would remain in power and he cannot accept that. Haniyeh says the prime minister is “sabotaging” efforts to reach a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, comments are being heard from Israel on the discussions in Cairo. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accuses Hamas of not taking the talks seriously enough. If that is the case, he says, Israel will not hesitate to launch a ground offensive in Rafah.

Ontvang regelmatig een overzicht van de ontwikkelingen in Gaza en Israël Stay informed with notifications

Israel has closed the Gaza border crossing at Kerem Shalom after a rocket attack nearby. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), ten rockets were fired at the border post. An armed branch of Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it targeted an Israeli army base, not the border crossing.

Kerem Shalom is located in the south of the Gaza Strip, close to the Egyptian border. The post is used to admit humanitarian aid, but now trucks are no longer allowed through. Other border crossings towards Gaza are still open.

According to the IDF, the rockets came from Rafah, but Hamas has not said anything about that. In response to the attack, the Israeli army carried out an airstrike on Rafah, the news agency reported Reuters. A house was hit, from where, according to the army, the rockets were fired.

According to Israeli and Palestinian media, several Israelis were injured in the attack on Kerem Shalom. Three people are said to have been killed in the attack on Rafah.

The Israeli government unanimously decided on Sunday to ban the activities of the Qatari news channel Al Jazeera in the country. The measure takes effect immediately.

Early last month, the Israeli parliament approved a law that gives the government the power to ban foreign channels if they pose a threat to national security. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously made it clear that he wants to ban the news channel. The Prime Minister calls the channel an “incitement channel”.

In response, Al Jazeera calls Israel’s ban “dangerous”. The Qatari news channel speaks of a decision based on political considerations rather than professional considerations. The channel says there will be a legal response.

Al Jazeera reports critically on the war in Gaza and is one of the few news channels that still has journalists there. Israel previously accused journalists from the news channel of having ties to Hamas. Al Jazeera denies all allegations and says Israel is systematically attacking journalists in the Gaza Strip.

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