CAIRO, February 4. /TASS/. The radical Palestinian group Hamas has charged Israel with hindering the implementation of the relief and reconstruction process outlined in the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Hazem Qassem, the movement's spokesman, stated.
"The occupiers continue to evade the Gaza ceasefire agreement's provisions that deal with humanitarian aid and deliberately impede and block the entry of the basic necessities, especially tents, mobile homes, fuel, and heavy machinery used for debris removal [into the enclave]," Hamas wrote on its Telegram channel, citing Qassem as saying. Hostilities had devastating effects on the infrastructure of Gaza, especially in the enclave's northern part. The movement therefore considers provisions on humanitarian aid to be the 'key aspects' of the Gaza deal.
Hamas accused Israel of not respecting the agreements reached and urged the mediator countries, especially Egypt and Qatar, to address the problem.
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on January 15 that thanks to the mediation of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement to hold a ceasefire in Gaza and release hostages held in the enclave. During the 42-day first phase of the deal, Hamas is to release 33 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody. The second phase will include efforts to rebuild Gaza.