'Israel' rejects stopping assassinations in order to reach ceasefire

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen Net
11 May 2023 15:27

Israeli media say Israeli ministers and MKs have been told that "all talk of a ceasefire with conditions are total fake news."

A picture shows a building targeted by an Israeli occupation airstrike in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, on May 11, 2023 (AFP)

Israeli media cited a political source as saying that the Israeli occupation did not agree to hand over the body of martyred prisoner Khader Adnan as part of a condition to reach a ceasefire.

The media added that "Israel" did not agree to stop assassinations against the Palestinian Resistance.

A Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Movement source had revealed that the head of the PIJ political department, Mohammad Al-Hindi, is arriving in Cairo on Thursday to discuss developments in the situation and stopping the Israeli aggression on Gaza, pointing out the movement requires an Israeli commitment to stop assassinations in order to deescalate the situation in Gaza.

In a related context, Israeli media reported that Israeli occupation PM Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party ministers and MKs have been told that reports that "Israel" will agree to a ceasefire with conditions are fake.

The Times of Israel cited Likud sources as saying that the ministers and the MKs received a message that read: "All talk of a ceasefire with conditions are total fake news."

"As of right now — there is no ceasefire!" the message said, adding that Netanyahu instructed Israeli occupation military and security forces "to strike Islamic Jihad with its full force, and to continue the offensive policy he has pursued his entire tenure."

On his part, Israeli occupation Security Minister Yoav Gallant said he "instructed all the security forces to take all necessary measures to prepare a series of additional operations, and to maintain a high level of readiness and vigilance for the possibility of increased range of fire."

This comes as the Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that the number of Palestinians martyred, as a result, has risen to 25, in addition to more than 70 injuries.

US steps up pressure on 'Israel' to deescalate situation in Gaza

Earlier, Israeli correspondent Barak Ravid revealed that US President Joe Biden's administration officials stressed to "Israel" the need to de-escalate the ongoing situation in Gaza.

"Biden administration officials spoke last night with their Israeli counterparts and stressed that while the U.S. supports Israel's right to defend itself, there is a need to de-escalate the situation in Gaza," Ravid tweeted.

The Israeli correspondent suggested that "the fact that the Biden administration made these messages public suggests there is a growing pressure by the U.S. on Israel to end its military operation in Gaza."

Despite the Pentagon saying that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Wednesday "reaffirmed his ironclad support for Israel’s security," it said that the US Defense chief "urged de-escalation towards a sustainable calm."

Similarly, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke to his Israeli counterpart Tzachi Hanegbi, "noted continued regional efforts to broker a ceasefire, and emphasized the need to deescalate tensions and prevent further loss of life," as per a White House statement.

🚨Biden administration officials spoke last night with their Israeli counterparts and stressed that while the U.S. supports Israel's right to defend itself, there is a need to de-escalate the situation in Gaza
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) May 11, 2023

Ongoing efforts for a ceasefire

In the same context, Kan correspondent Gili Cohen cited an unnamed Israeli source as saying that despite the continuation of the Israeli aggression against Gaza, "there are still efforts for a ceasefire," pointing out that "Egypt, Qatar, the UN, and the US are involved in the talks, with different intensity and influence."

The Israeli official said that "all parties have an interest in bringing about a ceasefire," as per Cohen's tweet.

גורם ישראלי: למרות המשך המבצע, יש עדיין מאמצים להפסקת אש. מצרים קטאר האו"ם וגם ארה"ב מעורבות בשיחות, בעוצמה ובהשפעה שונה. לפי הגורם הישראלי, לכל הצדדים יש אינטרס להביא להפסקת אש. היועץ לביטחון לאומי של ארה"ב שוחח הלילה עם עמיתו הנגבי ואמר: צריך להביא לרגיעה ולמניעת אובדן חיי אדם
— Gili Cohen (@gilicohen10) May 11, 2023

It is noteworthy that on Wednesday, sources in the Palestinian Resistance factions' joint operations room told Al Mayadeen that "the occupation pressed through various mediators to push for a ceasefire," noting that "the Resistance remained steadfast in its demand for a clear [Israeli] commitment to stopping the assassinations policy."

The sources also expressed the Resistance's "readiness to fight for the longest time period yet and to expand the ring of fire if necessary."

Aggression on Gaza could not alter deterrence equation: Israeli media

Israeli media reported on Wednesday that the aggression on Gaza failed to break any equation or change anything fundamental, advising the government to come clean with the Israeli occupation settlers on that matter.

"It is recommended that the government explain this truth" to the settlers in the Gaza envelope "before they wake up in a few weeks or days to the disturbing sound of the next red color alarm," "Israel" Hayom reported.

The newspaper stated that "those who brag from the Israeli side about changing the equation are invited to go back to where it all started: This is the third time in three and a half years that Israel has tried the same maneuver, which means that the deterrence against the Islamic Jihad is short-lived and needs constant reinforcement."

In the absence of a solution regarding "the Gaza problem (and Palestinian issue in general), Israel will continue to engage in battles with Gaza, the essence of which is engaging in short fighting rounds with the aim of achieving the longest possible truces between the two sides."