Palestinians are frantically searching for casualties trapped beneath the debris of a school that was sheltering displaced individuals, following an Israeli strike, as the Israel-Hamas conflict rages on in Gaza City on Wednesday. — Reuters
A senior official from the Palestinian militant group Hamas announced on Wednesday that the organization is prepared to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, drawing attention to the ceasefire that has taken effect in Lebanon. "We have communicated with mediators in Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, indicating Hamas' readiness for a ceasefire agreement and a genuine prisoner exchange," the official informed AFP. However, the official also accused Israel of hindering the deal's progress.
In a subsequent statement released on Wednesday, Hamas emphasized that "the enemy's acceptance of the agreement with Lebanon without fulfilling its preconditions signifies a major breakthrough in shattering (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's delusions of reshaping the Middle East through force." The group also commended the "crucial" role played by its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority expressed optimism that the ceasefire would bring much-needed stability to the region, particularly to war-ravaged Gaza. "We hope that this step will help to halt the violence and instability that the region is enduring," the Palestinian presidency stated in a release, underscoring the necessity of enforcing a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, has seen a surge in violence since the Gaza war broke out following Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
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