Hamas official Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook expects ceasefire within two days * IDF fighter jets carry out airstrikes in Gaza
Deputy head of the Hamas political bureau Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook claimed Wednesday evening that he expects a ceasefire agreement to be reached within the next couple of days, Israeli media reported.
“I think a ceasefire mediation will work. The equation was clear – if they escalate we escalate. If they stop firing at Gaza we’ll stop firing at Tel Aviv. Israel’s actions in Jerusalem and Sheikh Jarrah have caused the al-Aqsa Brigades to enter the campaign,” he said. “Any negotiations for a ceasefire must address that,” he added.
Marzook’s comments came as Israeli media reports came in indicating several IDF attacks in Gaza, including on a weapons storehouse located in the house of a Hamas senior official and other military infrastructures along the strip. The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit also reported that IDF fighter jets carried out strikes on two buildings in Gaza belonging to Hamas’ naval forces.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan wrote on Twitter Wednesday evening that the US was engaged in “intensive diplomacy” with Israel and Egypt “and our efforts will continue.”
I spoke with Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat and the Government of Egypt again today about the ongoing crisis. The United States is engaged in intensive diplomacy and our efforts will continue.
— Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) May 19, 2021
A Hamas official later told CNN that the ceasefire could be “imminent, possibly within 24 hours,” due to the international pressure being put on both sides to end the current conflict.
Earlier, an Israeli political official confirmed that Israel was heading toward a ceasefire agreement with Hamas through Egyptian mediation, according to Haaretz.
And while more indications pointed to a possible ceasefire as soon as Friday afternoon, rocket fire from Gaza toward Israeli territory continued throughout Wednesday night. Rocket sirens sounded in the Gaza border communities, central Negev and Beersheba.
Some Israelis, primarily residents of the Gaza border communities, have voiced objection to the ending of the operation.
“We should keep going until the end,” a resident of Sdeot told N12. “I want the IDF to do everything necessary to truly eradicate terrorism,” he added.
Some argued that reaching a ceasefire agreement now would mean that rocket fire would return at some point or another. “I think Hamas needs to be taken down once and for all,” a resident of Ashkelon told N12.
Others expressed support for a ceasefire, noting that Israel had achieved its strategic objectives. “Israel has regained its deterrence in the strongest way possible,” one resident of Netivot told N12, while another said: “Nine days is too much … soldiers are dying, they’re suffering … it’s not worth the operation.”
The population of the Gaza border communities have suffered the reality of running to bomb shelters for years on end. It seems like most are tired of the reality of a new operation disrupting their daily lives every couple of years or so, and are demanding that the IDF continue its operation in Gaza until Hamas is completely crippled.
Such demands were echoed earlier Monday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who told US President Joe Biden in a phone call that Operation Guardian of the Walls will continue until Israeli citizens are out of danger.
Still, the White house said that Biden “expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire” following the phone call between the leaders.
“The two leaders had a detailed discussion on the state of events in Gaza, Israel’s progress in degrading the capabilities of Hamas and other terrorist elements, and ongoing diplomatic efforts by regional governments and the United States,” the White House readout stated.
As reported by The Jerusalem Post