The threat is growing: Hamas demands a port • Israel: There will be a harsh response

August 7, 2014   

While representatives of the Palestinian factions are sitting in talks in Cairo, the spokesman for Hamas' military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced at a press conference he held in Gaza that he was calling on the delegations not to agree to the continuation of the ceasefire if their demands are not met.

""We are ready to reignite the campaign and turn the IDF's tanks into toys," the spokesman threatened. "We will tempt the IDF into a broad ground war and cause it thousands of deaths and hundreds of prisoners if it does not give in to our demands.".

Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq said that the military wing's statements reached the delegation in Cairo, and that the members of the delegation are "on the same page" with the military wing.

Hamas spokesman abroad, Osama Hamdan, said: "We will not withdraw from the right to the port - it is Gaza's gateway to the world."

Hamas' military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, told Al Jazeera today that they will resume firing at Israel tomorrow at 8:00 AM, after the agreed 72-hour ceasefire ends - if the ceasefire talks do not agree to lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip.

A political source said this evening: "We do not take Hamas' threats not to extend the ceasefire lightly, but firing at Israel will be met with a harsh response.".

The Israeli delegation to the talks in Cairo, headed by the head of the Defense Ministry's Political and Security Division, Amos Gilad, returned to Israel last night with the list of demands presented by the Palestinian delegation, which consists of representatives of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Palestinian Authority. Tonight The delegation will return to Egypt after consultations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Palestinian demands include: lifting the blockade of the Gaza Strip, establishing an airport and seaport, granting a 12-mile fishing zone off the coast of Gaza, and demands regarding the release of prisoners and the possibility of passage between Judea and Samaria and Gaza.

Sources familiar with the details say that the Palestinians have hardened their positions, despite the cold shoulder they are receiving from the Egyptians who are mediating the negotiations in Cairo. Reports indicate that there is a gap between Hamas' demands and the Egyptian approach, which is creating a sense of distress among the Palestinian delegation.

Egyptian intelligence officials and Fatah leaders, who are in Cairo and are conducting the negotiations, continue to try to convince Hamas and Islamic Jihad to extend the ceasefire for another 48 to 72 hours.

 Hamas threatens

An Egyptian security source involved in the details of the negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian delegations taking place in Cairo told news agencies that the Palestinian delegation, which was supposed to leave the Egyptian capital today, will remain there through the weekend. However, the report published in the news agency has no official confirmation from representatives of the delegation.

Some of the Palestinian demands also concern Egypt, such as opening the Rafah crossing and establishing the airport. Egyptian intelligence officials have made it clear to Hamas that they are not prepared to allow this, and that these are conditions for a comprehensive peace agreement, not just a ceasefire.

As mentioned, the Israeli delegation returned to Israel to formulate a position on the Palestinian demands and has not yet responded to them. With the exception of the demand for the release of terrorists who were released in the Shalit deal and were arrested after the kidnapping of the three boys, for which the delegation announced that Israel was not prepared.

Hamas, for its part, is threatening that if it does not receive guarantees that Israel will meet at least some of its demands, then tomorrow at 8:00 AM, at the end of the 72 hours agreed upon on Monday night, it will resume firing at Israel.

 In Gaza, people demonstrate support

בצהריים מילאו המונים את רחובות עזה להפגנת תמיכה בחמאס וקראו קריאות ניצחון ושמחה. המפגינים קראו להמשיך בלחימה נגד ישראל. "האויב המציא ניצחון שקרי. המלחמה טרם הסתיימה, הלוחמים שלנו עדיין בכוננות ועם היד על ההדק. הטילים שלנו עדיין מכוונים לתל אביב", איים דובר חמאס, מושיר אל-מסרי. הוא גם שיגר מסר לחברי המשלחת הפלסטינית בקהיר כשאמר: "אנחנו תומכים בכם וסומכים עליכם. אל תחזרו אם לא תשיגו את דרישותינו".

According to him, Hamas has "additional surprises, in addition to missiles that can reach Tel Aviv and Haifa. The tunnels are also still awaiting action.".