Ceasefire in Gaza Based on Verbal Understanding Between Hamas, Israel - Hamas Official
The recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas movement, brokered by Egypt and the United Nations, exists as a verbal understanding rather than written arrangement, Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, a member of the Political Bureau of the Hamas movement, told Sputnik
Earlier this week, media reported that Israel and Hamas, which de facto controls the Gaza Strip, had agreed on a six-month truce. The Palestinian militia in the embattled enclave promised to end hostilities on the Israeli border, maintain a buffer zone and put an end to night-time clashes. In return, Israel reportedly said it would extend the fishing area off the Gazan coast to 15 nautical miles and start negotiating with the enclave regarding its financing and power supply. The Israeli government has, however, denied having "new understanding" with Hamas, while a spokesperson for the movement reportedly said that it was "a temporary ceasefire as long as the occupation implements all understandings."
"There is no such agreement in a written form, but in verbal - yes. They [Egypt and the United Nations] have been trying to arrange such ceasefires many times before, and when they reach a ceasefire, they call us and Israel and appoint a certain time for this ... I don't know what [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu meant when he said there is no such thing, but in reality that [a ceasefire] is what happened," Abu Marzook said.
The Hamas official went on to say that the movement's demands included extending the permitted fishing zone from 5 to 15 nautical miles, opening the gates between the Gaza Strip and Israel, cutting the list of goods banned from entering Gaza, allowing Qatar to provide assistance to Gaza residents and supply fuel for a power station, and enabling foreign governments to help rebuild homes.
"We promised them to make the utmost effort to prevent people from reaching the border. Secondly, we are going to prevent a peaceful march from using any harsh tools like balloons or kites or stones. This is what we promised the Israeli on our side," Abu Marzook said.
Tensions between Israel and Palestinians from the Gaza Strip flared up in early May, when hundreds of rockets were fired at Israel from the Palestinian enclave, prompting the Israeli military to retaliate. The violence has claimed the lives of 25 Palestinians and four Israelis. UN Special Coordinator for the middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov said on Wednesday that a ceasefire was established in the early hours of May 6 following intensive mediation efforts by the United Nations and Egypt.
The Gaza Strip has been at the center of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, which has raged on for decades. The Palestinians have been seeking diplomatic recognition for their independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which are partially occupied by Israel, and the Gaza Strip. In March 2018, the conflict escalated with Palestinians launching weekly protests on the Gaza border, which has led to over 300 Palestinians being killed.