Hamas Grants Israel Two Months to Implement Understanding

Khalil al-Haya, a member of Hamas' political bureau in Cairo, Egypt on Nov. 22, 2017. AFP Photo/Mohamed El-Shahed
Khalil al-Haya, a member of Hamas' political bureau in Cairo, Egypt on Nov. 22, 2017. AFP Photo/Mohamed El-Shahed
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Hamas Grants Israel Two Months to Implement Understanding

Khalil al-Haya, a member of Hamas' political bureau in Cairo, Egypt on Nov. 22, 2017. AFP Photo/Mohamed El-Shahed
Khalil al-Haya, a member of Hamas' political bureau in Cairo, Egypt on Nov. 22, 2017. AFP Photo/Mohamed El-Shahed

Hamas said Israel has two months to implement the recent Qatar-brokered agreements in Gaza before it launches a new round of escalation.

Member of Hamas' political bureau Khalil al-Haya warned that Israel had "two months to implement the agreements between the parties, otherwise the escalation of violence will resume."

He said the negotiations took so much time due to uncertainty regarding the duration to be granted to the occupation to implement the deal.

Israel lifted the latest sanctions that were imposed on Gaza Strip, reopened the crossing borders, provided the Strip with fuel and allowed fishermen to return to the sea within a truce deal- brokered by Qatar.

In return, the truce deal stipulates that Hamas halts all forms of escalation.

Qatar's ambassador to Gaza Mohammed al-Emadi, who mediated the ceasefire between the Palestinians and Israel, said that talks are ongoing regarding a hospital in Rafah.

“I met with the head of the Israeli energy company, Delek, and discussed with him supplying gas to the Gaza power plant. It is better than operating electricity line 161,” he said.

Emadi also revealed that Israel agreed to issue 7,000 work permits for Palestinian workers.

Haya said that over $30 million in Qatari aid will enter Gaza this month, and the amount that was added to the aid will be allotted to 100,000 households by distributing $100 for each family and those who were impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

According to Haya, the agreement is not new but it's a confirmation of previous understandings.



Greece Says Doing All it Can to Ensure Respect for Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, speaks during a joint press conference with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, speaks during a joint press conference with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
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Greece Says Doing All it Can to Ensure Respect for Lebanon-Israel Ceasefire

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, speaks during a joint press conference with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, left, speaks during a joint press conference with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has stressed that "the international community and Greece are doing their utmost to ensure respect for the ceasefire” that was announced last month between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel.

During a visit to Beirut on Monday, Mitsotakis said that Greece and the international community are also doing all they can to “ensure the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which guarantees Lebanon's full sovereignty over Lebanese territory and provides the conditions for security and sustainable peace for its people."

Hezbollah and Israel exchanged fire across Lebanon's southern border for nearly a year in hostilities triggered by the Gaza war, before Israel went on the offensive in September, killing most of Hezbollah's top leadership. A ceasefire went into effect on November 27.

Following talks with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail, the Greek PM underlined that "Greece was and will remain a full partner in the efforts to rebuild Lebanon."

Mikati reiterated "the importance of adhering to the measures taken to implement the ceasefire and ensuring its continuity, especially the full implementation of Resolution 1701."

He considered that Greece's accession to the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the years 2025 and 2026 will help defend Lebanon's right to peace and stability, and stopping the Israeli aggression against it.

“We discussed joint cooperation and the potential of concluding bilateral economic and trade agreements between the two countries that may contribute to strengthening and enhancing relations and helping Lebanon emerge from its financial and economic crisis,” said Mikati.

He added that he stressed the important role of the Lebanese army, and Mitsotakis expressed Greece's willingness to work on securing the military's needs, an issue that was discussed in a meeting between Lebanon’s army commander, Gen. Joseph Aoun, and Chief of Staff of the Greek Army, Gen. Dimitrios Choupis.

Lebanese caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Abdullah Bou Habib, and his Greek counterpart, Georgios Gerapetritis, also held separate talks.