DaysofPal – A spokesperson for Hamas said Israeli occupation forces intensified demolition operations and shelling in eastern Gaza since dawn, linking the escalation to the convening of the first meeting of the so-called “Peace Council” in Washington.
Hazem Qassem stated in a press statement that the increase in destruction demonstrates that Israel “does not care about these discussions” and is pursuing a different agenda aimed at continuing what he described as a war of genocide.
He called for a “genuine and pressing position” from all parties participating in the Peace Council to halt what he termed the genocide being carried out by Israeli forces and to put an end to violations of the ceasefire agreement.
Prior to the council’s first session, Hamas said that developments over the past four months showed that Israel had not stopped the war but had only changed its methods and tools. The movement stressed that the war remains ongoing and that killing, displacement, blockade, and starvation continue.
Hamas urged the Peace Council, during its inaugural meeting, to translate its declared slogans into concrete action that would end the offensive. It warned that Israel could use the meeting as cover to continue military operations in Gaza and obstruct reconstruction efforts.
The Peace Council held its first meeting Thursday in Washington to discuss financing a large-scale reconstruction mission in Gaza and the possible deployment of foreign forces tasked with stabilizing the territory.
Israel has been carrying out genocide in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, with assistance from the United States and Europe. This includes killing, starvation, destruction, displacement, and arrests. The government has disregarded international calls and directives from the International Court of Justice to stop its actions.
Over 242,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured in this genocide, the majority of them women and children, and over 11,000 are still unaccounted for. In addition, famine has killed many people, primarily children, and displaced hundreds of thousands. Furthermore, widespread destruction has razed most of the Gaza Strip’s cities and towns, effectively erasing them from the map.
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