“They want to maintain pressure on Hamas. They want to destroy Hamas politically and militarily. And the only way to do that is to go back into Gaza. They’re reserving the right to do that at a time of their own choosing,” Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan reports from occupied East Jerusalem.
“However, during the Qatari mediation efforts, you heard [Qatar foreign ministry spokesman] Majed al-Ansari say he hopes the pause will be extended. We’ve also heard from senior Hamas leaders saying they hope that the truce will lead to a more permanent ceasefire and perhaps an end to the war.”
“That’s not the language that we’re hearing from Israel. Israel has a clearly stated aim — the destruction of Hamas,” the reporter says.
“But what’s slightly more worrying now for the international community, and completely worrying for Palestinians in Gaza, is the fact that Israel is now briefing that in the south of the Gaza Strip, Hamas has a command and control centre.”
“The south is supposed to be a safe zone. There is nowhere safe in Gaza per se, but the fact that they are briefing now that there is a command and control centre means if they go in, it’s likely that that will be the next front line,” Khan adds.
