Gaza, 28 November (IANS). Hamas said it is ready to cooperate with any ceasefire efforts in the Gaza Strip following the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal.
“We are monitoring the progress of the agreement in Lebanon, expressing our commitment to cooperate with any efforts to stop the fire in Gaza,” the Palestinian group said. News agency Xinhua gave this information quoting a press statement.
In the statement, Hamas also mentioned the conditions that it considers necessary for the agreement. These include withdrawal of the occupying forces (Israeli Army), return of displaced people to their homes, actual and complete prisoner exchange.
In the statement, Hamas called on Arab and Islamic countries and “the forces of the free world” to take serious action, and to pressure the US and Israel to stop “their brutal attacks against the Palestinian people.”
The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect in Lebanon at 4 am local time (02:00 GMT/7:30 am IST) on Wednesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden said that after the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, the Lebanese army will once again occupy its territory. “Over the next 60 days, Israel will gradually withdraw its remaining forces – civilians on both sides will soon be able to safely return to their communities and begin rebuilding their homes,” he said.
Joe Biden also supported stopping the fighting in Gaza in his speech. He said, “Just as the people of Lebanon deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza. They too deserve an end to the fighting and displacement.”
On October 7, in response to a major attack by Hamas in Israel, the Jewish State launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip occupied by the Palestinian group. About 1200 people were killed in the Hamas attack while more than 250 people were taken hostage. Israeli attacks have caused widespread destruction in Gaza and killed thousands of Palestinians.
–IANS
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