Rubio Says Gaza Offensive Isn’t Over Yet, As Israel Keeps Pounding Desperate Palestinians

WASHINGTON/CAIRO/JERUSALEM, Oct 5 (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned on Sunday that warfare in Gaza has not but ended regardless of Israel and Hamas each agreeing to components of President Donald Trump’s plan for the strip, as Gazans known as for its fast implementation to finish their struggling.

“We are going to know in a short time whether or not Hamas is critical or not by how these technical talks go when it comes to the logistics,” Rubio instructed NBC Information’ “Meet the Press” in regards to the launch of hostages from Gaza.

Hamas had drawn a welcoming response from Trump on Friday by saying it accepted sure key components of his 20-point proposal, together with ending the warfare, Israel’s withdrawal, and the discharge of Israeli hostages and Palestinian captives.

However the group left some points up for additional negotiation at talks in Egypt, in addition to questions unanswered, corresponding to whether or not it could be keen to disarm, a key demand from Israel to finish the warfare.

Israeli negotiators will depart for Egypt tonight and negotiations on the discharge of the hostages are anticipated to start on Monday, the day earlier than the warfare’s second anniversary, mentioned an Israeli authorities spokesperson.

A Hamas delegation, led by the group’s exiled Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, was additionally anticipated to land in Cairo in a while Sunday, to affix representatives of the US and Qatar for talks over the implementation of probably the most superior effort but to halt the battle.

An official briefed on the talks mentioned the negotiations will give attention to hammering out a complete deal earlier than a ceasefire could be applied.

“This differs from earlier rounds of negotiations which adopted a phased strategy, the place the primary section was agreed after which required extra negotiations to achieve subsequent phases within the ceasefire,” the official instructed Reuters.

“These subsequent rounds of negotiations is the place issues broke down beforehand and there’s a acutely aware effort amongst mediators to keep away from that strategy this time round.”

Rubio instructed ABC’s “This Week” {that a} timeline for finalizing a deal to launch the hostages was unsure however that talks “can not take weeks and even a number of days. We need to see this occur very quick.”

The plan has stirred hopes for peace amongst Palestinians however there was no let up of Israeli assaults on Gaza on Sunday as planes and tanks pounded areas throughout the enclave, killing a minimum of 16 folks, native well being authorities mentioned.

4 of these killed had been searching for assist within the south of the strip and 5 had been killed in an airstrike in Gaza Metropolis within the early afternoon, they mentioned.

Shadi Mansour stood within the destruction left by an Israeli airstrike within the Gaza Metropolis suburb of Tuffah on Saturday, which killed his son Ameer, 6, and 16 different folks.

“Is he a member of the resistance? Is he a fighter? All of the targets of the Israeli military are youngsters,” mentioned Mansour.

Ahmed Assad, a displaced Palestinian man in central Gaza, mentioned he had been hopeful when information broke of Trump’s plan however mentioned nothing had modified.

“Sadly, there isn’t any translation for this on the bottom. We don’t see any change to the state of affairs, quite the opposite, we don’t know what motion to take, what lets do? Lets stay within the streets? Lets depart?” he requested.

In an indication of Israeli optimism over the Trump plan, the shekel foreign money hit a three-year excessive towards the greenback and Tel Aviv shares reached an all-time excessive.

Some folks in Tel Aviv shared that sentiment. “It’s the primary time in months that I’m really hopeful. Trump has actually instilled a number of hope into us,” mentioned resident Gil Shelly.

Domestically, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is caught between rising stress to finish the warfare — from hostage households and a war-weary public — and calls for from hardline members of his coalition who insist there have to be no let-up in Israel’s marketing campaign in Gaza.

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich mentioned on X that halting assaults on Gaza can be a “grave mistake.” He and Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have threatened to convey down Netanyahu’s authorities if the Gaza warfare ends.

However opposition chief Yair Lapid of the centrist Yesh Atid social gathering has mentioned political cowl might be offered so the Trump initiative can succeed and “we received’t allow them to torpedo the deal”.

Below Trump’s plan, all Israeli hostages, alive and deceased, can be launched. Israel says 48 hostages stay, 20 of whom are alive.

Trump mentioned on Friday he believed Hamas had proven it was “prepared for an enduring PEACE” and he known as on Netanyahu’s authorities to halt airstrikes in Gaza.

Israel started attacking Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel through which some 1,200 folks, principally civilians, had been killed and 251 taken hostage, in keeping with Israeli tallies.

Israel’s marketing campaign, which has killed greater than 67,000 folks in Gaza, most of them civilians, in keeping with Gaza well being authorities, has led to its worldwide isolation.

Other than assassinating Hamas’ high leaders because the warfare began, Israel has additionally focused different regional allies of Iran corresponding to Lebanon’s Hezbollah and killed high Iranian commanders.

Hezbollah mentioned on Sunday that it supported Hamas’ stance, in coordination with Palestinian factions, with regard to Trump’s Gaza plan.

Extra reporting by Jaidaa Taha, Andew Mills, Mahmoud Issa, Miro Maman, Jasper Ward and David Morgan; Writing by Michael Georgy and Hatem Maher; Modifying by William Maclean, Louise Heavens and Ros Russell.