Hezbollah, Hamas discuss latest developments in Gaza cease-fire

Both parties emphasized ‘importance of ongoing field and political coordination at all levels to achieve their shared objectives,’ according to a Hezbollah statement

By Wassim Samih Seifeddine

BEIRUT (AA) - The chief of the Lebanese Hezbollah group, Hassan Nasrallah, met on Friday with a senior delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas to discuss the latest developments in the ongoing negotiations and proposed cease-fire initiatives in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, Hezbollah said: “Nasrallah met with a Hamas leadership delegation led by Khalil Al-Hayya to discuss the latest security and political developments in Palestine, particularly Gaza, as well as the status of support fronts in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq."

The two parties discussed “the current developments in the ongoing negotiations, their status, and the proposals aimed at ending the aggressive actions against the Palestinian people in Gaza.”

Both parties emphasized “the importance of ongoing field and political coordination at all levels to achieve their shared objectives.”

Israel announced on Wednesday that it had received Hamas' response to the cease-fire proposal through Egyptian and Qatari mediators. However, neither party disclosed the content of the response.

Israeli media quoted Israeli sources on Thursday, stating that "the response provides a basis for restarting negotiations."

Earlier Friday, Mossad chief David Barnea left for Doha to meet with Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss a hostage swap deal and a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, according to official sources.

With mediation from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, which strongly supports Tel Aviv, Palestinian factions in Gaza and Israel have been engaged in halting indirect negotiations for months aimed at reaching a hostage exchange agreement and halting the war in Gaza.

On May 6, Palestinian factions had previously agreed to a proposed cease-fire and hostage exchange agreement brokered by Egypt and Qatar. However, Israel rejected the proposal, arguing that it did not meet its conditions.

Tensions have soared along Lebanon's border with Israel amid cross-border attacks between the Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israeli forces as Tel Aviv pressed ahead with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 38,000 people since last Oct. 7.

Hezbollah has linked the cessation of its attacks on Israel to the end of Tel Aviv’s onslaught on Gaza.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi.

Kaynak:

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