Who will emerge as the President of Azerbaijan? Aliyev positioned to clinch 5th term in upcoming election
Baku, AZERBAIJAN(EFE/DT) – Following the voting in Azerbaijan’s election today, attention turns to the outcome and the nation’s next president. Incumbent President Ilham Aliyev stands as the frontrunner, set to clinch his fifth consecutive term in office.
Aliyev’s political dominance in Azerbaijan has been evident for years, with his presidency marked by a firm grip on power and a significant influence on the country’s political landscape. As the leader of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, Aliyev has maintained stability and control over the government, shaping policies and initiatives to align with his vision for the nation.
“The result of Wednesday’s elections in Azerbaijan is already predetermined, with Aliyev expected to emerge victorious,” stated independent analyst Ghia Nodia from the Caucasus Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“There is no element of surprise in these elections, lacking even a hint of competitiveness.”
Supporters have commended Aliyev for transforming a nation previously considered a Soviet backwater into a thriving energy provider for Europe.
Azerbaijanis began voting in presidential polls on Wednesday, with incumbent Ilham Aliyev widely expected to clinch his fifth term following the September war victory against Armenian separatists in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
In the country bordering the Caspian Sea, more than 6,300 polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time on the election day.
Around 6.3 million Azerbaijanis are registered to vote until 7 p.m. in the snap election to elect a new president for seven years.
Aliyev, in power since 2003, is a clear favorite after advancing the elections by 14 months from the scheduled date of 2025, capitalizing on his widespread popularity following the Karabakh victory.
He faces six other candidates, mostly loyalists, who did not criticize the president’s administration during the campaign and televised debates.
The extra-parliamentary opposition, which condemned the continued arrests of political activists and journalists, has decided to boycott the presidential elections.
“In Azerbaijan, there are no conditions for the free expression of the popular will. All the fundamental rights of citizens are flagrantly trampled,” Ali Kerimli, leader of the Azerbaijan Popular Front party, told EFE.
The Azerbaijani authorities have invited more than 500 international observers to monitor the elections, including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) delegation.
However, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is not among the invitees to observe the election.
Aliyev threatened to review the country’s participation in the Council of Europe after it suspended Azerbaijan’s participation in PACE.
“All this confirms the intentions of the Azerbaijani authorities to once again falsify the elections,” Kerimli said.
Experts said that while Aliyev strengthened his ties with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he maintained his support for all the strategic energy and transportation projects proposed by the West for the Caspian and the Caucasus regions.
South Africa Ramaphosa to announce election date this month – spokesman
JOHANNESBURG(Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce the date of this year’s general election later this month, his spokesman said on Wednesday. “If you count from tomorrow, the president will announce the election date within 15 days,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told reporters.
Political analysts say record power cuts, poor service delivery and high levels of unemployment are likely to hurt the governing African National Congress (ANC) party that Ramaphosa, 71, leads, threatening the loss of its parliamentary majority for the first time since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Ramaphosa, who has struggled to rekindle economic growth since taking over from his scandal-plagued predecessor Jacob Zuma in 2018, will seek a second term as president.
Voters will elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each of the country’s nine provinces.
The National Assembly elects the president after the vote.
Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian Editing by Alexander Winning, Kirsten Donovan
Saudi Arabia remains steadfast in its position on diplomatic relations with Israel during Blinken’s visit
Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA(EFE/DT) – Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed its unwavering stance on diplomatic relations with Israel during the recent visit of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Kingdom reiterated that the establishment of ties with Israel is contingent upon the recognition of a Palestinian state.
This assertion underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the Palestinian cause and its support for a comprehensive and just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite diplomatic overtures and regional shifts, Saudi Arabia has consistently emphasized the importance of addressing Palestinian grievances and achieving a two-state solution.
The reaffirmation of this position comes amidst ongoing efforts to foster stability and peace in the Middle East region. It reflects Saudi Arabia’s principled stand on the issue and its dedication to upholding the rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people.
As diplomatic engagements continue and regional dynamics evolve, Saudi Arabia’s stance underscores its pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of Middle Eastern geopolitics and advancing efforts towards a lasting peace in the region.
Saudi Arabia has conveyed its position to the United States as a Washington-backed Middle East peace plan that seeks normalization of ties between Israel and Gulf nations has been relegated to cold storage after the war between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israeli forces erupted in October last year.
While the Saudi foreign ministry statement did not explicitly mention the meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Monday, it alluded to the communication of Saudi Arabia’s position to the US administration.
“The kingdom has communicated its firm opposition to the US administration that there will be no diplomatic relations with Israel unless an independent Palestinian state is recognized on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital and that the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip stops and all Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Gaza Strip,” the foreign ministry said.
The Saudi ministry urged the international community, particularly the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, to recognize the Palestinian State based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
This recognition, the statement emphasized, would enable the Palestinian people to realize their legitimate rights and facilitate comprehensive and just peace in the region.
The remarks by the Saudi government coincide with ongoing efforts by the US, Egypt, and Qatar to negotiate a ceasefire in war-hit Gaza.
The objective is to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by the Islamist group Hamas and increase humanitarian aid to the civilian population of the besieged strip.
Secretary Blinken, on his fifth tour of the Middle East since the Gaza war began four months ago, indicated during his visit to Doha that he would discuss Hamas’ response to the proposed ceasefire framework with the Israeli government.
The rich and ultra-conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not maintain good ties with Hamas, even as Riyadh is one of the main advocates of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), chaired by Mahmoud Abbas, which it considers the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.
White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby announced on Tuesday that the Biden administration has received encouraging feedback indicating Saudi Arabia and Israel’s readiness to maintain discussions on normalization.
The Saudi foreign ministry affirmed that the Kingdom has conveyed its unwavering stance to the U.S. administration, emphasizing that diplomatic relations with Israel hinge upon the recognition of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
It reiterated its call to the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to expedite the recognition of the Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The recent Gaza war has reignited discussions about the two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, despite the stagnation of negotiations in recent years.
Chinese-Australian writer given suspended death sentence in Beijing
Sydney, AUSTRALIA(EFE) – Australian pro-democracy blogger Yang Hengjun has been given a suspended death sentence by a Chinese court after being accused of espionage, the Australian government reported Monday.
Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong looks on at a press conference after visiting the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China, 06 November 2023. EFE-EPA FILE/LUKAS COCH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT
The 58-year-old academic was born in China but has Australian citizenship.
“The Australian Government is appalled that Australian citizen, Dr Yang Jun, has today received a suspended death sentence in Beijing,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement, adding that it is “harrowing news for Dr Yang and his family and all who have supported him.”
Wong said the government was “appalled” at the ruling and would be “communicating our response in the strongest terms.”
Yang was arrested in 2019 on national security charges, accused of spying, which he has denied, and then convicted in May 2021 in a one-day closed-door trial for which the verdict or sentence was not publicly disclosed.
Wong said his sentence could be commuted to life imprisonment if he does not commit any serious crimes within a period of two years.
Australia has asked Beijing for his release “at every opportunity, and at the highest levels” and has consistently called for “basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment for Dr. Yang” in line with “international norms and China’s legal obligations,” Wong said.
“We will continue to press for Dr Yang’s interests and wellbeing, including appropriate medical treatment, and provide consular assistance to him and his family. All Australians want to see Dr Yang reunited with his family. We will not relent in our advocacy,” she added.
In recent years, concern has increased over the health of Yang, who had a large cyst detected in one of his kidneys.
In October, his relatives sent a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressing concern over his “rapid” decline in health and pleading with the leader to do “all in your power” to secure his release during his official visit to China in November.
“We request that you do all in your power to save our father’s life and return him immediately to family and freedom in Australia,” they wrote.
The arrest of Yang and other Australian citizens has been a source of tension between Canberra and Beijing, which reinforced a diplomatic and commercial thaw with Albanese’s visit, the first by an Australian leader to the Asian giant since 2016.
The writer’s sentence is a setback after months of improvement in bilateral relations under the Australian government, with the withdrawal of some tariffs by Beijing and the release in October of the Chinese-Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who was detained in 2020. EFE
Singapore passes law to hold ‘dangerous offenders’ beyond prison terms
SINGAPORE, (Reuters) – Singapore on Monday passed a law to hold “dangerous offenders” indefinitely, even after they complete their jail sentences. The legislation applies to those above 21 who are convicted of crimes such as culpable homicide, rape and sex with minors, who are deemed to be at risk of reoffending upon release.
In a speech in parliament, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said: “An offender who continues to pose a real danger to others should not be released.”
He gave an example of a man jailed for raping his 6-year-old stepdaughter, who, after his release started sexually assaulting his sister’s granddaughter who was 10 in 2015. In 2017, he sexually assaulted the girl’s younger sister who was 9. “We have to deal with these kinds of menace and protect our society,” said Shanmugam. The new law means that instead of being automatically released after completing their prison terms, such offenders would need the home affairs minister to decide that they were no longer a threat to the public.
The minister would be advised by a review board made up of experts such as retired judges, lawyers, psychiatrists and psychologists, and the offender and his lawyers can make representations to the board. Those found unfit for release will have their case reviewed annually. Singapore estimates this law will affect fewer than 30 offenders a year. The United States has a similar law – for sex offenders who are considered likely to reoffend – in 20 states, the District of Columbia, and the federal government.
In Singapore, the law passed with broad support, including from the opposition party, even though some urged caution. Opposition lawmaker Sylvia Lim, from the Workers’ Party, said it was hard to accurately predict future violence, and there was a risk of “over-detaining someone based on a wrong prediction of dangerousness.”
Lim said judges can already order sentences to run consecutively, which can detain offenders for much of their lives in jail, a preferable option to “leaving it to the executive to determine when an offender should be released.”
Non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch, said it opposed continued detention laws as they violate due process rights. Reporting by Xinghui Kok Editing by Bernadette Baum
Southern California Declares State of Emergency as Powerful Storm Hits
Sacramento, US (EFE/DT) – California declared a state of emergency for eight counties in the south of the state, including Los Angeles, on Sunday due to a winter storm predicted to bring heavy rains and snow.
Governor Gavin Newsom said disaster management resources and California National Guard personnel would be deployed in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties.
Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for eight counties in Southern California as a series of winter storms has commenced affecting much of the state with strong winds, destructive rain, and heavy snowfall.
Southern California has declared a state of emergency as a man walks through rainwater. (Photo: EFE)
Earlier today, the Governor visited the State Operations Center near Sacramento for an update on the storm and the state’s response efforts.
The proclamation covers Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The emergency proclamation includes provisions authorizing a California National Guard response if tasked, facilitating unemployment benefits for impacted residents, and making it easier for out-of-state contractors and utilities to repair storm damage.
Governor Gavin Newsom issues advisory for his affected state
5 things you can to do stay safer:
Stay connected. Dial 311 to get help or ask questions. If you have a critical emergency, call 911. Stay informed by signing up for emergency alerts including warnings and evacuation notices at org.
Get your information from trusted sources. Check state and local government or emergency management websites and social media accounts for trusted information specific to your area. Local news outlets and meteorologists are also a good source of information. Be wary of posts from unknown sources on social platforms or from online ‘experts’ without credentials.
Prepare for high winds. Before a high wind event: remove any dead trees or overhanging branches near structures, remove loose roofing material, bring in unsecured objects from patios and balconies, secure outdoor objects that could blow away, shutter windows securely and brace outside doors. During a high wind event: take cover next to a building or under shelter, stay away from windows, stay clear of roadways and train tracks, avoid elevated areas such as roofs, watch for flying debris.
Travel safely. Avoid non-essential travel during the peak of the storm expected Sunday and Monday. If you must drive, download the QuickMap app or visit QuickMap (ca.gov) to learn up-to-the-minute information on road conditions, traffic, closures, and more. Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn Around, Don’t Drown! Remember, just six inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
Be ready in case of power outages. Take inventory of the items you need that rely on electricity. Keep your devices charged. Plan for batteries and other alternative power sources to meet your needs if the power goes out such as a portable charger or power bank. Have flashlights for every household member.
Fallen trees and power lines block a road in Pebble Beach, Calif., on Sunday. (Ryan Sun / Associated Press)
Additional Resources
Storm Season Safety Guide: the state is sharing multilingual resources, deploying a network of community-based organizations through the Listos California campaign, and highlighting other work underway to protect at-risk communities this rainy season.
Prepare Yourself through Texts: Californians can sign up for a 5-lesson text message course through Listos California on what to do before, during and after floods, high winds, debris flows and other storm impacts. This course is available in English, Spanish, Hmong and Punjabi. Text “CAWINTER” to 20202 via SMS to sign up.
As significant storms impact much of California, @Cal_OES continues to work with local governments to coordinate any necessary response and provide resources to communities like Warming Centers. Learn More: https://t.co/yR7uW76JoYpic.twitter.com/WB4H7g2AH0
— California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (@Cal_OES) February 5, 2024
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Los Angeles said Sunday that a flood watch is in force for all areas of the metropolitan region.
More than half a million Californians were without power today due to heavy rains and winds, according to PowerOutage.us.
Media reports said 19 people were rescued off the California coast of Long Beach after the mast of a sailboat broke due to strong winds. Only one suffered injuries, and the ship was damaged but did not sink.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told reporters that the storm hitting the region “is a serious climate event.”
A wave hits a boat that washed ashore as a powerful storm, the second in less than a week, hits Santa Barbara. The storm is expected to bring flooding, mudslides and power outages while dropping heavy rain and snow. (Mario Tama / Getty Images)
“This has the potential to be a historic storm: high winds, thunderstorms and even brief tornadoes,” said Bass.
Residents of several cities in Ventura County were forced to evacuate due to the danger of flooding.
Thousands remain alert for flash flood warnings, especially in fire-hit and coastal areas from California’s border with Mexico to northern San Francisco Bay.
The NWS warned that the storm could leave records of accumulated rain of more than 15 centimeters.
“Given the large amounts of rainfall expected in the period, 3-6 hour rainfall rates could be problematic, potentially leading to mud and debris flow issues as well as rapid water overflows into local rivers and streams.” said the NWS.
Warnings for strong winds of up to 100 km per hour are also in force for almost 30 million people in inland areas across the state.
The foothills and mountains, which expect record snowfall on Sunday, could have wind gusts of around 150 km per hour.
VISAKHAPATNAM, India, Feb 5 (Reuters) – India beat England by 106 runs in the second test to level the five-match series at 1-1 in Visakhapatnam on Monday. Chasing 399 for victory, England were all out for 292 in the second session on day four with Zak Crawley (73) topscoring for the tourists. For the home side, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and seamer Jasprit Bumrah claimed three wickets apiece. The third test in Rajkot begins on Feb. 15.
Jasprit Bumrah clinches the final wicket as India triumphs over England by 106 runs, leveling the series 1-1 on Day 4 at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. R Ashwin and Bumrah emerge as the standout bowlers, claiming 3 wickets each.
Shubman Gill’s magnificent return to form sets the stage for India’s imposing target of 399 against England, setting up an intriguing chase for the Bazballers on the fourth day of the second Test. At Stumps on Sunday, England stands at a solid 67/1, with ‘nighthawk’ Rehan Ahmed (9*) and opener Zak Crawley (29*) at the crease. The aggressive Ben Duckett’s brisk 27 off 28 balls was halted by veteran Ravichandran Ashwin.
Cricket – Second Test – India v England – Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, India – February 5, 2024 India’s Jasprit Bumrah celebrates after taking the wicket of England’s Ben Foakes REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas
Gill, shedding his earlier struggles, scores a sublime 104 runs to anchor India’s innings. Axar Patel contributes a valuable 45, while contributions from Srikar Bharat and Ashwin are limited.
Chile declares national mourning period as fires death toll rises to almost 100
Santiago, CHILE (EFE/AP) – Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared two days of national mourning on Sunday as at least 99 people have died in the devastating fires that are consuming the Valparaiso region.
On Sunday, firefighters grappled with extensive forest fires that erupted in central Chile two days earlier. Authorities extended curfews in cities most impacted by the fires, revealing that at least 112 individuals had lost their lives.
Photograph showing in the Achupallas sector, affected by forest fires in Viña del Mar, Valparaiso Region, Chile, 04 February 2024. EFE/ Adriana Thomasa
The Legal Medical Service (SML) “has taken in a total of 99 people; 32 of them identified,” the organization said, updating an earlier death toll of 64.
Boric said the disaster “is the greatest tragedy we have experienced as a country since the earthquake of Feb. 27, 2010.”
“I have declared two days of national mourning, starting tomorrow, Monday, because it is the whole of Chile that suffers and mourns our dead.”
In Quilpué, a town that has been hard hit by the flames, Boric pointed out that “one of the most urgent problems is the recovery of the bodies of the victims.”
A registry of the municipality of Viña del Mar, another city hit hard by the fires, estimates that there are more than 370 people missing, which does not imply that all of them are dead but does give an idea of the magnitude of the catastrophe.
According to the latest report from the National Forestry Corporation, there are at least seven fires currently burning in Valparaiso, the largest in the Peñuelas/Las Tablas Lake Reserve, next to the main highway, which has already razed almost 9,300 hectares.
This fire, along with the one in Lo Moscoso, which has burned 1,350 hectares, is of particular concern due to its virulence and proximity to densely populated areas.
The authorities set a curfew from 6 pm local time (21:00 GMT) in the sectors that have not yet been evacuated from the towns of Quilpué, Villa Alemana, Limache and Viña del Mar, to facilitate rescue efforts and clear evacuation routes.
It is estimated that between 3,000 and 6,000 homes have been affected by the fires, and the Ministry of Health has issued an alert in the area.
Locals clean the rubble of burnt-out houses after forest fires reached their neighborhood in Vina del Mar, Chile, on Feb. 4, 2024. CRISTOBAL BASAURE / AP
Authorities are hoping that the slight drop in temperature and increase in humidity on Sunday will help control the active outbreaks and allow rescue services to enter the most devastated areas.
Because of the simultaneity of the fires and the locations of where they started, authorities believe that several may have been intentionally set.
“It is hard to believe that there could be such wretched and heartless people capable of causing so much death and pain, but if these people exist, we will look for them, we will find them, and they will face not only the rejection of the entire society but also the full weight of the law,” Boric added.
A view of car that was destroyed by a wildfire in Quilpue, Chile, on Feb. 4, 2024 LUCAS AGUAYO ARAOS / ANADOLU VIA GETTY IMAGES
Authorities urged residents in fire-affected areas to evacuate swiftly, while those in regions farther from the blazes were advised to remain indoors to ease the movement of emergency vehicles.
Curfews were imposed in Viña del Mar and nearby cities like Quilpé and Villa Alemana to deter looting incidents.
The wildfires ignited during a week marked by exceptionally high temperatures in central Chile. Over the preceding two months, the El Niño weather phenomenon induced droughts and soaring temperatures across western South America, heightening the forest fire threat.
Ten police officers were killed in a militant assault in Pakistan
Islamabad, Feb 5 (EFE).- At least 10 police officers were killed on Monday in a pre-dawn bomb and gun attack on a police station in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the station’s in-charge said.
Heavily armed militants targeted the Chodwan police station, about 100 km from district headquarters in Dera Ismail Khan city, Khalid Khan, the station house officer, told EFE.
“At around 3 a.m., unknown assailants attacked the police station with heavy weapons,” said Khan.
“The terrorists attacked with modern weapons and hand grenades, and the exchange of fire with the police continued for more than an hour,” he said.
Six wounded cops have been shifted to hospitals in Dera Ismail Khan. The militants escaped under the cover of darkness, he said.
The slain cops included six officers from the provincial elite police unit who had participated in several operations against the Taliban last year, the police officer said.
No group claimed the attack, but Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or the Pakistani Taliban often take responsibility for such assaults in Dera Ismail Khan.
The area has been cordoned for a search operation to hunt down the militants, the officer said.
Dera Ismail Khan is one of the worst affected districts of the troubled province along with North Waziristan and South Waziristan in terms of extremist violence.
Militant attacks have risen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces as the Feb. 8 general elections draw closer.
The Pakistan Army on Friday said at least 30 people, including 24 militants and two civilians, were killed in a prolonged three-day military operation in Balochistan province last week.
According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based think tank, militant attacks more than doubled in January compared to December last year.
The country has been witnessing a surge in insurgent attacks since the Taliban’s ascent to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. EFE
Hamas says more time needed to announce position on potential hostage deal
Lebanon-based official says terror group ‘open to discussing any initiative’; Israel reportedly unclear on cause of delay, cites possible divisions within Hamas
JERUSALEM (Agencies) – A senior Hamas official said Saturday that a final agreement had not yet been reached over a tentative truce deal to pause the nearly four-month war with Israel in Gaza.
Leaders from the terror group were reviewing a proposed framework thrashed out by top officials from Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States during talks in Paris last week, said Osama Hamdan, a top Hamas official in Lebanon.
But more time was needed, he said, to “announce our position.”
He told a news conference that his movement “has repeatedly said” it was “open to discussing any initiative… putting an end to this barbaric aggression against our Palestinian people.”
But while Hamdan confirmed the group had received the truce proposal drafted by mediators in Paris, he said an agreement had not yet been reached and that the plan was missing some details.
“We will announce our position” soon, “based on… our desire to put an end as quickly as possible to the aggression that our people suffer,” he added.
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan speaks during a rally organized by Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror group to express solidarity with the Palestinian people, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, May 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
Hamdan, whose organization has demanded a total ceasefire prior to any agreement, also denounced an “Israeli disinformation campaign” aimed at “distorting” Hamas’s position.
Israel has “rejected all initiatives made so far… in order to continue the aggression,” he claimed.
He told a news conference that his movement “has repeatedly said” it was “open to discussing any initiative… putting an end to this barbaric aggression against our Palestinian people.
But while Hamdan confirmed the group had received the truce proposal drafted by mediators in Paris, he said an agreement had not yet been reached and that the plan was missing some details.
Hamdan, whose organization has demanded a total ceasefire prior to any agreement, also denounced an “Israeli disinformation campaign” aimed at “distorting” Hamas’s position.
Israel has “rejected all initiatives made so far… in order to continue the aggression,” he claimed.
The war broke out with Hamas’s devastating October 7 attack in which terrorists killed some 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians. The 3,000 Hamas-led terrorists who invaded from the Gaza Strip also abducted 253 people who were taken as hostages into Gaza; 132 hostages abducted on October 7 are still held in Gaza.
In response to the October 7 attack, Israel launched an offensive aimed at removing Hamas from power in Gaza and releasing the hostages.
A Hamas source has said the current three-stage truce proposal under discussion included an initial six-week pause in fighting that would see some hostages released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, with potential extensions of the temporary ceasefire. However, there have been reports suggesting the agreement would include different terms.
The Kan public broadcaster reported there were differences of opinion among Israeli officials as to what was causing the delay in a Hamas response to the proposed deal.
One view was that it was a technicality, as the response is to be delivered to Israel via Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who also serves as the emirate’s foreign minister, and he only returned to his country over the weekend after participating in proposal talks abroad.
Others claim it is due to a serious internal debate among senior Hamas officials about the current proposal. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the prevailing dynamic within Hamas has flipped, with the terrorist organization’s chief in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, willing to agree to a temporary truce while its leaders outside of the Strip are pushing for further Israeli concessions and a permanent ceasefire.
Israel is expecting an answer from Hamas within the next day or two, Channel 12 reported Saturday.
According to an unsourced Kan report, Israeli officials are waiting to call another security cabinet meeting about the proposed hostage deal in order to prevent leaks from the meeting from influencing a Hamas decision.
Israel is also not speaking with mediators until a response comes through, the report said, for the same reason.
Hamas and Egyptian sources told the Al-Arabiya outlet that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar, has delayed a fresh trip to Cairo in which he would discuss the hostage proposal. A Hamas delegation led by Haniyeh was in the Egyptian capital last week for talks on the subject.
IDF troops seen operating in Gaza in this handout photo cleared for publication on February 4, 2024. (IDF)
Haniyeh has said any ceasefire must lead to “a full withdrawal” of Israeli troops from Gaza.
According to his office, Haniyeh spoke Friday with allied, but smaller, Gaza-based terror group Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Ziad Nakhaleh, and the two agreed any deal with Israel for the release of hostages must be accompanied by a complete halt to the fighting, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, ending Israel’s blockade of the enclave, reconstruction of the Strip and the freeing of Palestinian security prisoners.
Such steep demands would seem to be nonstarters for Israel. The insistence on large-scale prisoner releases and an end to the fighting in Gaza put Hamas at odds with the multi-stage proposal hammered out in Paris that officials put forth last week. That proposal does not include a permanent ceasefire.
Israeli leaders have said they will keep fighting until Hamas is crushed, even while agreeing to long pauses that are accompanied by the release of hostages.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military is in favor of a deal to release the hostages even if it means halting the fighting for a prolonged period, Kan reported.
The unsourced report said that Israel Defense Forces officials note that the military campaign has not succeeded in releasing the hostages, which is one of the two goals of the offensive.
Hamas and other terror factions are holding onto 132 of the 253 hostages abducted on October 7, following a weeklong November truce deal that saw the release of 105 civilians, mostly women and children.
The IDF has said 29 of the 132 are dead, citing intelligence and findings obtained by troops operating in Gaza. One more person has been listed as missing since October 7, and their fate is still unknown. Hamas has also been holding the bodies of fallen IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014, as well as two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are both thought to be alive after entering the Strip of their own accord in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report for Times of Israel
