– The whole world is watching and expects both parties to show a willingness to meet each other, says Eide in a comment to Nettavisen.
He points out that any attempt to establish a ceasefire could be the difference between life and death for many people, on both sides of the conflict.
– Such an agreement is the goal in the short term, to put an end to the enormous suffering in Gaza. I repeat the demand that the war must end, the hostages must be released and the people of Gaza must get the help they need. At the same time, we must continue to work for a two-state solution, which is the real solution to this, says the foreign minister.
Rocket attack on Rafah
Israel reportedly fired rockets at Rafah. This is reported by the Israeli army (IDF). It happens shortly after the country rejected a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Spokesman Daniel Hagari says that the plan for a ground invasion of Rafah is ready, and that the order given earlier on Monday to evacuate the city is a preparation for the ground invasion.
The Islamist movement confirmed in a statement on Monday that it has accepted the ceasefire proposal. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has communicated the decision to Qatar and Egypt.
Jubilation erupted in the streets of the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah when the news became known. Here, fears have spread in recent days that an Israeli ground invasion could be imminent.
But a short time later, an Israeli source told the Reuters news agency that they do not accept the latest proposal.
It reportedly contains “far-reaching conclusions” that are not acceptable to Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will nevertheless send off a new negotiating delegation, he says in a statement.
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– The ball in Israel’s half
Exactly what the ceasefire proposal entails is not known. The Israeli source claims the proposal appears to be an attempt to make it look like Israel is refusing to agree to an agreement.
A Hamas source told the AFP news agency that Israel must decide whether to accept the proposal or block it.
– Now the ball is in Israel’s half, says the source.
Over a million Palestinians have sought refuge in Rafah as a result of the war that has raged in the Gaza Strip since October last year.
Earlier Monday, Israel asked people in the eastern part of Rafah to evacuate. This was interpreted to mean that there could be a short time left before the start of a ground invasion.
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Several phases
A Hamas official told Reuters that the latest ceasefire proposal includes a ceasefire, reconstruction, the return of displaced persons and a prisoner exchange. All of these have been important demands from Hamas.
In recent days, sources in both Egypt and Hamas have said that a ceasefire can be implemented in several phases. During these, Hamas can release Israeli hostages, while Israel withdraws forces from the Gaza Strip.
One of Hamas’s leaders confirms on Monday that the latest proposal is based on three phases, each of which will last 42 days.
However, the distance between the parties has long appeared to be large. Hamas wants an agreement to end the war, while Israel says its offensive in Gaza must continue until the Hamas regime is gone.
Conversation with Biden
While Israel has continued its invasion preparations against Rafah, the country’s main ally – the United States – has asked Israel not to invade. The same has a large number of other countries.
The US view was reiterated on Monday in a telephone conversation between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Aid organizations fear that a catastrophic humanitarian situation will become even worse if large Israeli forces move into Rafah. Israel, for its part, believes that this is necessary to crush the Hamas regime, which still holds power in parts of the Gaza Strip.
Erdogan asks the West to increase pressure
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he is happy that Hamas is agreeing to a cease-fire agreement for Gaza and asks Western countries to increase pressure on Israel.
In a statement, Erdogan says that he hopes Israel will also accept the ceasefire proposal, which Egypt and Qatar have negotiated.
Erdogan asks Western countries to push harder to get Israel to agree to a ceasefire.
