Protesters gathered in the Arab-Israeli city of Umm al Fahm on Friday to voice their opposition to the ongoing conflict in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. The demonstration was captured in a photo by AFP.
A high-ranking Hamas representative declared on Friday that the organization is prepared to enter into a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, urging incoming US President-elect Donald Trump to exert pressure on Israel to bring the war to an end. 'Hamas is prepared to agree to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a ceasefire proposal is put forward and is adhered to by Israel,' stated Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, in an interview with AFP. 'We appeal to the US administration and Trump to compel the Israeli government to halt its aggression.'
Hamas has communicated to mediators that it supports any proposal that would result in a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of military forces from the Gaza Strip, enabling the return of displaced individuals, facilitating a meaningful prisoner exchange, allowing the entry of humanitarian assistance, and supporting reconstruction efforts, according to Naim. These demands mirror those made by Hamas in previous ceasefire negotiations since the beginning of the conflict.
During his campaign, Trump pledged to promote peace in the Middle East and has indicated a willingness to grant Israel greater freedom of action. The Hamas offensive led to the deaths of 1,206 individuals, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP compilation of Israeli official data. Israel's retaliatory actions have resulted in the deaths of 43,764 people in Gaza, the majority of whom were civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled territory's health ministry, which the United Nations deems credible.
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