Israel, not Hamas, derailing Gaza ceasefire: Haaretz

JERUSALEM

Israeli newspaper Haaretz accused the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday of derailing the Gaza ceasefire agreement, not Hamas.

“Israel – not Hamas – is the one preventing the deal's implementation and the hostages' return,” Haaretz said in an editorial.

The Israeli army pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes since Tuesday, killing more than 400 people, injuring hundreds, and shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.

The government claimed that the assault was renewed due to Hamas’ “repeated” rejection of all proposals to extend the ceasefire and release Israeli captives.

“But it must be said, loudly and clearly, that this is a lie. It was Israel, not Hamas, that violated the agreement,” Haaretz commented.

“On its 16th day, the parties were supposed to begin discussing the second phase, which was supposed to end with the release of all the remaining hostages. Israel refused.”

Haaretz said Israel also broke its promise to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor on the border between Gaza and Egypt between the 42nd and the 50th day of the ceasefire.

“Moreover, Israel announced that it was halting the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and closing the border crossings. This decision, like the energy minister's decision to halt the limited amount of electricity Israel provides to Gaza, explicitly violates Israel's commitment in the agreement that aid will continue entering as long as talks on the second stage are ongoing.”

The first phase of the deal ended in early March, but Netanyahu refused to enter negotiations for the second phase of the agreement. Instead, he wants to extend the first phase of the deal.

Hamas has refused to proceed under these conditions, insisting that Israel abide by the terms of the ceasefire and immediately start negotiations for the second phase, which includes a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a complete halt to the war.

Haaretz also criticized Netanyhu’s claims about Hamas’ rejection of all proposals by US envoy Steve Witkoff to extend the ceasefire.

“All the proposals that Hamas received from Witkoff stem from Israel's refusal to uphold its part of the deal. Consequently, the attempt to portray Hamas' rejection of Witkoff's proposals as a reason to resume the fighting is nothing but a dishonest manipulation.”

It also slammed as “another lie” Netanyahu’s claim that the renewed assault on Gaza was meant to release the hostages, the living and the deceased.

“That's another lie. Military pressure endangers the hostages, and of course also the lives of Israeli soldiers and Gaza residents, while also destroying what remains of the territory.”

Nearly 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 112,000 others injured in a brutal Israeli military campaign in Gaza since October 2023.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.