In a statement released on the second day of the ceasefire, the terrorist group made it clear that it would not back down until Israel is destroyed and revealed its plans to rebuild arms during this time.
"Gaza, with its great people and its resilience, will rise again to rebuild what the occupation has destroyed and continue on the path of steadfastness until the occupation is defeated," Hamas declared. The group emphasized its ongoing resistance against Israel, claiming that despite what it described as "systematic crimes" by the Israeli forces over 471 days, their resolve remains unshaken.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which began on Sunday morning, is expected to last six weeks. As part of the deal, Hamas agreed to release a number of hostages, starting with three out of a total of 33 individuals who are scheduled to be freed during this initial phase. On Sunday afternoon, the first three hostages, Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari, were released as part of the deal.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump addressed the hostage release during a rally in Washington, D.C., on Sunday. He hailed the ceasefire agreement as a significant achievement and expressed optimism about its potential to bring lasting peace to the region. "This week, we achieved an epic ceasefire agreement as a first step toward lasting peace in the Middle East — and this agreement could only have happened as a result of our historic victory in November," Trump stated, referencing the diplomatic efforts behind the deal.
Despite the temporary ceasefire, Hamas’s statement underscores the group's ongoing commitment to its goals of undermining Israel's existence and continuing its militant actions against the state.
0 Comments