The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday vehemently denied a statement from the United States alleging that the group is planning an “imminent attack” against Palestinians that would violate the current ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
The US State Department had informed countries involved in mediating the Gaza peace agreement about the alleged planned attack, stating it would be a “grave” violation of the deal.
US Statement Cites Credible Reports
In a release issued on Saturday, the US State Department stated that it had received “credible reports” of the planned operation. While it did not provide specific details on the nature of these reports, the statement issued a stern warning:
“This planned attack against Palestinian civilians would constitute a direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement and undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts,” the State Department said.
The US further warned of consequences, adding, “Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire.”
Hamas quickly responded to the allegations, with Reuters reporting that the group stated the accusations were false.
Status of the Fragile Ceasefire
The accusation comes as the ceasefire in Gaza hangs by a thread. The current agreement, brokered by the US and agreed upon after a series of meetings in Egypt involving all stakeholders, required Hamas to release all surviving hostages and return the bodies of the deceased captives to Israel before Monday at 0900 GMT.
As part of the agreement:
- Hamas has returned all 20 surviving hostages.
- The remains of 12 deceased captives have been returned.
- Earlier on Saturday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Hamas had returned two coffins containing the bodies of dead Israeli hostages.
Hamas has publicly stated that it requires more time and technical assistance to recover the remaining bodies from under the rubble in Gaza, which was heavily damaged by Israel’s offensive following the initial attack.
Background on Hamas
Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist political and militant group that currently governs the Gaza Strip. It was founded in 1987 as an offshoot of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood. It is designated as a terrorist organization by the US, Israel, the European Union (EU), and other countries. The group maintains both a political wing and an armed wing, known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
The current conflict in Gaza erupted after the unprecedented Hamas siege on Southern Israel on October 7, 2023. During that attack, Hamas militants caused the deaths of 1,219 people, most of whom were civilians, and took 251 hostages into Gaza.