Israeli media account of ceasefire rejected by 'Israel', Egypt, Hamas

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
16 Oct 2023 10:50
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The alleged ceasefire is expected to coincide with the opening of the Rafah border crossing, allowing hundreds of humanitarian aid convoys to enter the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (AP)

Israeli media reported a ceasefire agreement in the south of the Gaza Strip, alleging that the US, "Israel", and Egypt had agreed to start the ceasefire as of 09:00 am local time and have it extend for 8 hours.

The alleged ceasefire, which the head of the government media office in Gaza denied knowledge of, reportedly coincides with the opening of the Rafah border crossing between the Strip and Egypt.

The Egyptian official had noted in an official statement, "We have not received any communications or confirmations from Egyptian authorities regarding the opening of the Rafah crossing."

The strategy of conflicting information has been one of the prominent strategies used by the Israeli occupation to coerce the Palestinian Resistance to accept their rules for the ceasefire.

As stated, "Israel" is conducting violent raids targeting the eastern side of Gaza City and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a statement saying "there is currently no ceasefire and humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the evacuation of foreigners."

Similarly, the Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure and Cabinet member Israel Katz: "I strongly oppose lifting the blockade on Gaza and allowing goods in on a humanitarian basis."

Following those statements, Israeli media reverted to saying that "Israeli ministers will vote on decisions regarding a ceasefire during tonight's cabinet meeting."

On the Palestinian end, it was reported that the Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson, Abu Obeida, will have an address soon.

In the meantime, a member of the Hamas Political Bureau, Izzat al-Risheq, announced "There is no truth to the media's reports of a truce or the opening of the Rafah crossing."

About 100 aid trucks waiting to enter Gaza: Al Mayadeen Correspondent

Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Cairo reported that approximately 100 trucks carrying 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid are waiting to enter from Egypt into the Gaza Strip.

Our correspondent explained that the Rafah crossing is no longer suitable for delivering aid to the Strip, and there is talk of using the Karm Abu Salem crossing as an alternative.

The Washington Post reported that the Israeli occupation requested to inspect every aid truck before entering Gaza from El Arish Airport, noting that "Israel" would allow the entry of each truck after its approval.

The occupation threatened to strike any truck entering without its approval.

Director of #AlMayadeen's bureau in #Cairo Mohammad Nasser: "Around 100 trucks carrying 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid await to enter #Gaza from #Egypt." https://t.co/JxAbpS0rPF
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 16, 2023

The Israeli occupation army shelled the crossing three times on the 10th of this month within 24 hours, resulting in the injury of two Egyptians in the Egyptian hall and five Palestinians on the other side of the border.

A halt of aid trucks from the Egyptian side was announced due to repeated airstrikes on the Palestinian side of the crossing, as stated by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the same time, Egypt denied the closure of the land crossing between Egypt and Gaza at any point during the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip. However, it experienced irregularities in its operation due to the repeated Israeli airstrikes that damaged its essential facilities on the Palestinian side.

Egypt called on the Israeli occupation to avoid targeting the Palestinian side of the crossing to enable its rehabilitation for future operations.

It is noteworthy that Israeli occupation Security Minister Yoav Gallant ordered last week to cut off electricity, water, and food from Gaza, leaving more than two million Palestinians in the already-besieged Strip without basic human needs amid the ongoing aggression that has claimed the lives of more than 2,600 Gazans till now.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) affirmed Sunday that Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have revealed an "unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe."

The agency's Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, revealed that "there is not one drop of water, not one grain of wheat, not a liter of fuel that has been allowed into the Gaza Strip for the last eight days."