Hamas accepts the most recent Gaza ceasefire idea and is looking for an Israeli response.Hamas has told Egyptian and Qatari mediators that it has accepted a new Gaza ceasefire proposal and is prepared to resume talks, therefore lifting faint optimism of a breakthrough in the terrible conflict that has claimed the lives of over 62,000 Palestinians.The organization said in a statement on Monday that “Hamas, together with the Palestinian groups, transmitted their acceptance of the proposal put forward yesterday by the Qatari and Egyptian negotiators.” According to The Times of Israel and Channel 12, among other Israeli media sources, Israel had gotten Hamas’s reply.A source familiar with the negotiations said the proposal calls for a 60-day stoppage of military activities during which the Israeli army would reposition to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
Half of the 50 Israeli captives would be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners within that period. The source described the plan as “the beginning of the path to a comprehensive solution.”
The development starts with a Cairo meeting between Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who jointly urged quick advancement. Stating the “beyond imagination” humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty underlined the necessity of an agreement.
Even though Hamas has accepted, Israel’s position is still unknown. Describing Hamas under “atomic pressure,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said military activities in Gaza City would continue. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich opposed any truce, claiming it was a “lifeline” for Hamas, whereas Defense Minister Israel Katz argued Hamas’s readiness to negotiate came from terror of losing the territory.
Expected to announce the resumption of negotiations soon are mediators. Earlier efforts—including a truce negotiated in January by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States—fell apart when Israel restarted military action in March. Aid organizations estimate more than 260 Palestinians have died from starvation as a result of the blockade.Echoing admonitions from the UN and humanitarian organizations, Amnesty International on Monday accused Israel of carrying out a “deliberate policy” of hunger in Gaza. Analysts warn that political will in Israel and more global pressure to stop the battle would determine a long-lasting ceasefire even if negotiations restarted.
