Washington Issues Warning Over Potential Hamas Attack on Civilians

The United States has alerted guarantor nations of the Gaza peace agreement about credible reports indicating that Hamas is planning an imminent attack on Palestinian civilians. The US Department of State issued this warning in a statement on Saturday, emphasizing the serious implications such an attack would have on recent mediation efforts aimed at stabilizing the region.

According to the State Department, should Hamas proceed with targeting civilians, it will take necessary measures to protect the people of Gaza and uphold the integrity of the ceasefire that was established on October 10. The ceasefire agreement, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States, includes provisions for the exchange of prisoners and detainees, the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces.

In a related development, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) reported that they received the body of the tenth deceased Israeli hostage held in Gaza, in addition to the remaining twenty living hostages. On Saturday evening, the IDF announced that the bodies of two more deceased Israeli hostages had been received. The situation remains tense as Hamas has yet to respond to the US warning.

Hamas has previously criticized Israel for maintaining the closure of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, arguing that this decision will delay recovery operations and the handover of bodies of Israeli hostages. The group claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to keep the crossing closed constitutes a blatant breach of the ceasefire agreement and a repudiation of commitments made to mediators and guarantor nations.

The ceasefire, which went into effect on October 10, aims to create a more stable environment in Gaza, allowing for humanitarian aid and the resumption of dialogue between conflicting parties. Continued tensions and potential actions by Hamas could jeopardize these fragile efforts.

As the situation develops, the international community remains watchful, with many hoping that diplomatic channels will prevail to maintain peace in the region.