Hamas again rejects calls for disarmament
As we’ve been reporting, Hamas officials have been meeting mediators in Cairo to discuss proposals to restore the ceasefire in Gaza.
These negotiations have been at an impasse since Israel abandoned the ceasefire deal agreed in January, by imposing a total blockade on Gaza on March 2 and resumed its deadly attacks on March 17.
Taher al-Nono, a top Hamas official, speaking to the Reuters news agency, insisted on an Israeli commitment to ending the war.
“The idea of a truce or its duration is not rejected by us, and we are ready to discuss it within the framework of negotiations. We are open to any serious proposals to end the war,” he said.
However, al-Nono ruled out a core Israeli demand that Hamas lay down its arms. “The weapon of resistance is not negotiable and will remain in our hands as long as the occupation exists,” he said.
Mahmud Mardawi, another Hamas official, also emphasised that any new ceasefire would require “guarantees regarding the end of the war”. He added, “The occupation can return to war after any partial deal, but it cannot do so with a comprehensive deal and international guarantees.”
Some context: The IRA laid down their arms 7 years after reaching peace with the UK. This call for disarmament is just put in so Hamas can not accept the total surrender deal. Just an excuse for Israel to keep the genocide going.
Ex-Israeli spy chief calls for ‘non-violent civilian revolt’
Ami Ayalon, a former chief of the Israeli security agency, Shin Bet, has addressed antigovernment protesters in Tel Aviv, encouraging the crowds to “take to the streets” and “stop the country”.
“Non-violent civilian revolt is the civic duty of every citizen,” Ayalon said, while criticising the Netanyahu government for surveilling “citizens who wish to protest” – a claim also made by the current Shin Bet chief, Ronen Bar, who is engaged in a power struggle with Netanyahu.
“We are fighting for Israel’s Jewish-democratic identity as formulated by the founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence,” Ayalon said.
Two groups of protesters have been staging rallies against Netanyahu’s government every Saturday, with one group gathering to oppose what they call the prime minister’s crackdown on Israeli democracy and the others demanding a deal for the release of Israeli captives in Gaza.
The Times of Israel said the two groups gathered in separate squares in Tel Aviv and then merged, as they do each week, on the city’s Begin Road.
Protesters rally outside the Israeli defence ministry in Tel Aviv to demonstrate against Israel’s attacks on Gaza, on Saturday
