Hamas says it’s learning proposal ‘in constructive spirit’ as delegation reportedly set to go to Cairo for additional talks.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh has mentioned the most recent Israeli proposal for a truce in Gaza and an alternate of captives for prisoners with Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
Haniyeh held separate cellphone calls with Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Overseas Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Thursday.
An announcement by the Palestinian group stated a delegation is ready to go to Egypt quickly for additional oblique ceasefire talks with the target of “ending the aggression in opposition to” folks within the besieged and bombarded enclave.
Haniyeh instructed Kamel he “appreciated the position performed by Egypt”, which together with Qatar and america, is mediating the talks, and “careworn the constructive spirit of the motion in learning the ceasefire proposal”, in line with a press release on Hamas’s official web site.
A separate assertion by Hamas on Thursday stated that Haniyeh and Qatar’s prime minister agreed to proceed the discussions to “mature a deal” by means of Qatari and Egyptian mediation.
Hamas stated on Saturday that it had acquired Israel’s newest place and would research it earlier than submitting a reply.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, whereas visiting Israel on Wednesday, urged Hamas to just accept the truce plan.
“Hamas must say sure and must get this finished,” Blinken stated, insisting that “if Hamas really purports to care concerning the Palestinian folks and needs to see a right away alleviation of their struggling, it ought to take this deal.”
Main sticking factors
There have been important sticking factors in negotiations. Hamas has repeatedly stated it might not settle for a deal that doesn’t assure a everlasting ceasefire, an entire withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the unhindered return of displaced households to their properties.
The Israeli proposal features a halt in preventing for 40 days and the alternate of dozens of Israeli captives for a lot of extra Palestinian prisoners, in line with British Overseas Secretary David Cameron, who described the provide as “beneficiant”.
Egyptian state-linked media Al-Qahera Information reported Thursday that “a delegation from Hamas will arrive in Cairo throughout the subsequent two days to proceed truce negotiations”, citing a high-level Egyptian supply.
Chatting with the Reuters information company, a Palestinian official near the mediation additionally stated the Hamas delegation’s go to might happen within the subsequent two days.
Egypt just lately renewed its bid to push stalled negotiations on a ceasefire in Gaza and finish Israel’s ongoing assault there, at the same time as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to ship in floor troops to the southern metropolis of Rafah, the place greater than 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
At the least 34,596 Palestinians have been killed and 77,643 others wounded within the Israeli assault on Gaza since October, in line with authorities within the territory. The Israeli assault on Gaza started after Hamas fighters led an assault on southern Israel on October 7, killing at the least 1,139 folks, in line with an Al Jazeera tally based mostly on Israeli statistics.
Israel’s assault on Gaza has pushed greater than 80 p.c of the territory’s inhabitants of two.3 million from their properties, precipitated huge destruction in most cities and cities, and pushed northern Gaza to the brink of famine.
Dozens of captives had been launched by Palestinian teams in Gaza in alternate for lots of of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails throughout a earlier weeklong truce in late November.
Israeli forces have since arrested hundreds extra Palestinians in a sweeping crackdown within the occupied West Financial institution and East Jerusalem, in addition to in Gaza.
