Hamas insists talks in Miami must end Israeli ceasefire violations

JAKARTA - High-ranking officials of the Hamas militant group warned that talks between a number of parties regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, must aim to end Israel's violations of the ceasefire in the Palestinian territories.

Special envoy of the President of the United States Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, will meet with senior officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in Florida, USA on Friday, amid concerns that efforts to reach the second phase of the deal are encountering obstacles.

"Our people expect these talks to produce an agreement to end the ongoing Israeli violations, stop all violations, and force the occupation to abide by the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement," Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim told AFP, quoted by Al Arabiya (19/12).

Naim said the new talks must increase the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"The talks must also focus on the entry of aid, the opening of the Rafah crossing in both directions and the delivery of everything necessary for the repair and rehabilitation of infrastructure," Naim said.

He said the talks should also discuss "how to implement the remaining elements of Trump's plan in a way that achieves sustainable stability, launches a comprehensive reconstruction process, and paves the way for a political track that allows Palestinians to govern themselves, culminating in a fully sovereign and independent state."

Under the second phase, Israel would withdraw from its positions in Gaza, a temporary authority would rule the Palestinian territory in Hamas's stead, and international stabilization forces would be deployed.

However, progress in moving to an October agreement phase between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Washington and its regional allies, has so far been slow.

The ceasefire also remains fragile with both sides accusing each other of violations, and mediators are concerned that Israel and Hamas are both stalling.

In the first phase of the Gaza deal, Palestinian militants committed to freeing 48 surviving and deceased hostages held in the territory.

Until now, they have released all the hostages except one body.

However, the Trump administration now wants to move on to the difficult second phase, with the provision that Hamas lay down its weapons as an important point that is an obstacle.

The third phase of the ceasefire includes plans for the reconstruction of the vast Gaza Strip, which was flattened by Israel's military response to Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023.

Meanwhile, the health ministry in Gaza said on Thursday that at least 395 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the area since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10.

Israel has also repeatedly accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire, with the Israeli military reporting three soldiers killed in the area since the ceasefire came into effect.