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Hamas Decides to De-Escalate Tensions with Israel

Exploding incendiary balloons are prepared in al-Bureij, Gaza. (dpa)
Exploding incendiary balloons are prepared in al-Bureij, Gaza. (dpa)
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Hamas Decides to De-Escalate Tensions with Israel

Exploding incendiary balloons are prepared in al-Bureij, Gaza. (dpa)
Exploding incendiary balloons are prepared in al-Bureij, Gaza. (dpa)

Hamas has decided to reduce tensions with Israel by stopping clashes with Israeli soldiers on borders and halting the launch of incendiary balloons, informed Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The group’s decision is part of an effort to avoid sabotaging Egyptian attempts to maintain calm in Gaza.

Sources revealed that Hamas had responded to a request to lower tensions by Egypt, which was enraged by the group’s latest escalation on Saturday.

The agreement between Cairo and Hamas follows Ismail Haniyeh, the group's politburo head, discussing recent Gaza developments with Egyptian officials.

“Haniyeh’s contacts with the brothers in Egypt came to relieve our people and resolve some outstanding issues,” said Hamas spokesman Abdelatif al-Qanou.

For Haniyeh, cooling the atmosphere is vital after Egyptian anger with Hamas’ escalations led to the closure of the Rafah border crossing on Monday. Egyptian authorities did not announce when they would reopen it.

Hamas had angered Egypt by implementing its plan for gradual escalation despite having promised Cairo that the group’s border marches would not lead to more violence.

On Saturday, Hamas kickstarted popular marches on Gaza's borders with Israel. These demonstrations led to confrontations and the two sides exchanging fire.

Israel then bombed Gaza and Hamas launched cross-border incendiary balloons.

The attacks set off fires in southern Israel on Monday and provoked retaliation from the Israeli military, which hit several Hamas targets on Monday evening.

The army said in a statement that “fighter jets struck a Hamas weapons manufacturing site in Khan Yunis, as well as a terrorist tunnel entrance in Jabalia.”

“A Hamas underground rocket launch site that is located adjacent to civilian homes and a school in Shejaiya, was also struck,” it added.

Earlier on Monday, Israel Fire and Rescue Services investigators determined that arson balloons launched from the Gaza Strip caused at least nine fires in southern Israel.

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Aoun Wants Formation of ‘Consensual’ Lebanese Govt Representing All Components

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
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Aoun Wants Formation of ‘Consensual’ Lebanese Govt Representing All Components

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is advocating the formation of a government of “consensus” that includes representatives from all political factions.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam has requested that parliamentary blocs submit non-partisan nominees for ministerial positions, emphasizing that they must not belong to any political party.

Aoun stressed on Tuesday that all components of society have the right to be represented in the government, parliament and public administration, as this is already practiced in the army.

“We have significant opportunities that we hope to seize by uniting all elements of Lebanese society—civil, spiritual, and political. Together, we can rebuild our nation,” he declared.

Highlighting the importance of meeting international expectations, Aoun hoped for the rapid formation of a government to achieve political, economic, and security stability, which would allow citizens “to live with dignity, not merely in relative comfort.”

During meetings with professional delegations at the Presidential Palace, Aoun said: “We are at a crossroads. Either we take advantage of the current circumstances and rise above sectarian, religious, and political divisions, or we head in a different direction and bear full responsibility for failing to fulfill our duties.”

Negotiations between Aoun, Salam, and political factions over the formation of a government are ongoing. The discussions, which kicked off last week, have reportedly made progress, with efforts directed toward expediting the government formation process, issuing decrees, preparing a ministerial statement, and securing its vote of confidence from lawmakers.

While the Shiite duo of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement appear to have finalized their proposed nominees for the government, disagreements over the ministerial statement remain.

MP Waddah Sadek, who is backed by the opposition, firmly rejected the inclusion of the “Army, People, Resistance” term in the statement. He declared: “No ‘blocking third’ in the government, and no unconstitutional gimmicks. The slogan of the new phase in Lebanon should be: the ‘Army, People, and State.’”

The Kataeb Party echoed this stance, stressing that Lebanon, emerging from a devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel, must align with the Aoun’s inaugural speech and Salam’s remarks by ensuring the ministerial statement exclusively underscores the state’s monopoly over arms and the defense of the nation.

“The government must act decisively, dismantle militias, strictly enforce the ceasefire, and uphold its provisions across all Lebanese territory,” it demanded.

The Kataeb Party also urged Aoun and Salam to resist the “great extortion” by Hezbollah and Amal to secure specific ministries or positions, in violation of the inaugural speech, calling instead for the application of uniform standards to ensure the government’s success.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah adopted a more confrontational tone.

MP Hussein Hajj Hassan, a member of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, commented: “To those betting on Hezbollah’s weakness or the weakness of the Hezbollah-Amal alliance, what will you say when the government is formed? What will you say when you realize the strength of Hezbollah, the alliance, and the resistance’s supporters across all segments of Lebanese society? What will you say when you see the unwavering determination and unity of the resistance at every critical juncture?”