Hamas urges ‘Peace Council’ to assume responsibilities

Hamas has called on the so-called Peace Council to take immediate action to stop what it described as Israel’s ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. The movement urged the council to implement the principles it has announced in order to achieve peace on the ground.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the past four months had shown that Israel had not halted what he described as a “war of genocide”, but had instead changed its methods and forms. He stressed that the war was still continuing, and that killings, displacement, siege and starvation had not stopped.

In a recorded video statement, Qassem called on the Peace Council, which is due to hold its first meeting on 19 February, to turn its declared slogans into serious action to end what he described as the aggression. He warned that Israel could use the meeting as cover to continue its war in Gaza and obstruct reconstruction efforts.

Qassem also urged the council to facilitate the entry of the “National Committee for the Administration of Gaza” into the territory to begin its work, and to provide the necessary resources to launch what he called a genuine relief and reconstruction phase to end the suffering of residents.

He further called for the lifting of the Israeli blockade on Gaza and the opening of all crossings, stressing the need to move beyond the current limited opening of the Rafah crossing and what he said were violations faced by Palestinian travellers.

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