291: Chapter 291 A single page overturns the negotiating table

Representatives from mediating parties including the United Nations, Egypt, and Qatar sat on the side.

The negotiations had been ongoing for five days, but had yielded nothing.

"...In summary," Squid Nation Acting Defense Minister Elizer adjusted his glasses, his tone one of deliberately feigned calm, "Out of the utmost humanitarian sincerity, our government agrees to hold discussions based on the 1967 borders and is willing, under the premise of ensuring the absolute safety of our citizens, to reduce our military presence in the Gaza Strip in stages and with conditions."

He produced a thick document: "This is the preliminarily drafted 'Roadmap for Security Withdrawal and Transitional Arrangements.' In the first phase, our troops will withdraw to the defensive lines of major settlements on the periphery of Gaza. At the same time, your side must disarm completely, surrender heavy weaponry, and allow international peacekeeping forces to enter and supervise the demilitarization process. The second phase, depending on the security situation, will involve the gradual opening of some supply corridors. The third and final phase will involve discussions on compensation and reconstruction, but this requires that your side fully recognize our right to exist and abandon all hostile actions, and the amount and scope of compensation must be subject to international arbitration..."

Sinwar listened quietly, his face devoid of any expression.

The legal Death Soldiers beside him quickly recorded keywords on a tablet: phased, conditional, disarmament, demilitarization, international arbitration... Each word meant delay, hollowing out, and ultimately rendering the fruits of the resistance void.

"Minister Elizer," Sinwar waited for the other party to finish before speaking slowly, his voice not loud, yet it made the meeting room instantly quiet, "In the past 72 hours, while we were sitting here talking about 'withdrawal' and 'humanitarianism,' your air force fired 17 missiles at the vicinity of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, causing the deaths of 41 civilians, 19 of whom were children. Your artillery fired 24 white phosphorus shells at farmland east of Khan Yunis, burning a large amount of nearly harvested grain and causing severe burns to 12 farmers. Your navy continued to blockade the coast, seizing three civilian rescue ships attempting to bring in medicine."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the other party like a blade: "Is this your 'utmost humanitarian sincerity'? Is this the prelude to your 'phased withdrawal'?"

Elizer's expression changed slightly, but he immediately recovered: "Those were necessary military counterattacks against terrorist rocket launch sites; it is regrettable that they caused collateral damage. War always has a price. Moreover, Mr. Sinwar, your side's rockets also continue to attack our cities..."

"We attack military targets." Sinwar interrupted him, his tone resolute, "Every attack is recorded, and the targets are clear. Whereas your 'collateral damage' falls every time near the most densely populated residential areas, hospitals, and schools. This is not war; this is a massacre. Using the negotiation table to buy time to cover up the continued massacre on the battlefield."

"Watch your language!" the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs said sharply, "These are groundless accusations! We are conducting peace negotiations in earnest!"

"Peace?" A cold arc formed at the corner of Sinwar's mouth, "When one side holds absolute military power and can tear up promises and create more 'collateral damage' at any time, what the other side is forced to accept at the negotiation table is not peace, but a letter of surrender."

He stood up, no longer looking at the Squid Nation representatives, but turning to the mediators: "Members of the mediation team, thank you for the venue and your efforts. But the facts are already clear. The other side has no sincerity for a ceasefire, nor the will to end the occupation and return the legitimate rights of the Palestinians. They only want to use a 'roadmap' full of traps to drag us into an indefinite 'process' led by them, while continuing to consume and oppress the people of Gaza with bombs and blockades."

He picked up the thin, single-sheet document in front of him—it clearly listed four conditions: 1. The Squid Nation army must completely withdraw from all Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem; 2. Immediately, completely, and permanently lift all blockades on the Gaza Strip and open all border crossings; 3. Establish an international tribunal to hold those responsible for war crimes accountable and provide full compensation for losses caused by the war; 4. Recognize the independence and sovereignty of the State of Palestine.

"Our conditions were laid out here five days ago, clear, definite, and with no room for bargaining." Sinwar's voice echoed in the meeting room, "For five days, other than using long-winded nonsense to attempt to tamper and delay, the other side has made no substantial progress, while the crimes their army commits in Gaza increase every second."

He placed the document gently on the table.

"Now, on behalf of the Jiasha Resistance Organization, I officially announce that due to the Squid Nation government's lack of even the most basic sincerity for negotiation and their continued commission of war crimes during the negotiations, this round of talks is indefinitely suspended."

"Mr. Sinwar! Please calm down! The door to negotiations remains open!" the United Nations envoy stood up hurriedly.

Sinwar took one last look at the grim-faced Elizer and the others, his gaze as if looking at dead men.

"The door to negotiations was closed by your own hands." He said slowly, "When language loses its meaning and only deception and slaughter remain, then, the only thing that can end everything is slaughter itself."

"This is the final warning. Unfortunately, you did not listen."

Having said that, he did not linger, and with two subordinates, he left the meeting room without looking back.

Behind him came Elizer's furious voice: "He is threatening us! This is a naked terrorist threat! The international community must condemn this behavior!"

But Sinwar's back had already disappeared at the end of the corridor.

The representatives of the mediation parties looked at each other, their faces ashen. They knew that the worst-case scenario was about to happen.

Naypyidaw, Command Center.

Zhang Cheng watched the real-time footage and recording of the Cairo meeting simultaneously.

"The actors have exited; it is time for the butchers to take the stage." He said indifferently, his eyes without a ripple. He was not surprised by this result. Although Lavitz had fallen, the core thinking of the Squid Nation ruling group had not changed: delay and oppression under the advantage of force.

"Sinwar's 'Hellfire' upgrade plan is ready." Old K reported, "Two 'Shadow Dancer-3' reinforced squads, totaling 24 people, have infiltrated target cities such as Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa through various channels. The system has provided the most detailed schedules, security loopholes, and structural diagrams of residences and office locations for the targets. President Houssa has also conducted a new round of missile tests in the Red Sea, attracting most of the attention of Eagle Sauce's reconnaissance satellites and early warning aircraft."

"Is the list confirmed?" Zhang Cheng asked.

"Confirmed. Primary targets: Prime Minister Netani, Minister of Defense Lavitz (though suspended, his influence remains; he is the banner of the hardliners), Acting Defense Minister Elizer (negotiator, executor of delaying tactics), the new head of Mossad, the Chief of General Staff, as well as three other far-right cabinet ministers and two famous media moguls who advocate for war. A total of ten people." Li Lanzhi pulled up the list, "These ten people are the core layer of current war decision-making and public opinion manipulation. Eliminating them will cause their decision-making system to instantly paralyze and trigger huge political panic."