Hamas Threatens: Israel ‘Responsible for Repercussions’ if Ceasefire Fails
Hamas is demanding that Israel enable the transfer of Qatari funds into the Gaza Strip while threatening that “the Israeli Occupation [is] responsible for the repercussions of postponing or disavowing the ceasefire understandings.”
Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif al-Qanoa on Tuesday called on “mediators” to press Israel to “abide by the ceasefire understandings and implement the agreed-upon items.”
Israel and Hamas recently agreed upon a short-term and limited ceasefire in which Hamas would scale back its attacks on Israel in return for Israel enabling the entry of millions of dollars in cash and petrol for electricity into Gaza, paid for by Qatar.
Qatar pledged $150 million in aid to Gaza, which was to be paid out in phases throughout the course of six months, in an attempt to bring some calm to the area.
Israel has so far enabled two such transfers but halted the third phase which was to take place this week following several cross-border incidents, the latest of which was a rocket fired from Gaza at Israeli communities on Monday morning.
Al-Qanoa said that Hamas “held the Israeli Occupation responsible for the repercussions of postponing or disavowing the ceasefire understandings.”
Al-Qanoa also underscored that the “Great March of Return protests,” the Hamas-led riots on Israel’s border with Gaza, would continue “until the Palestinian people restore all their rights.”
Some 10,000 Gazans rioted on the border with Israel on Friday. IDF forces responded with crowd dispersal measures, as well as live fire when needed. Gazan sources report that six rioters were wounded.
