Hamas responded positively Wednesday to a U.S. cease-fire plan for the eight-month-old conflict within the Gaza Strip, opening a “wide pathway” to achieve an settlement.
However, neither the Palestinian group nor Israel publicly dedicated to a deal, creating uncertainty.
Hamas submitted its formal response Tuesday to a proposal outlined by U.S. President Joe Biden on May 31. Israel claimed the response was tantamount to a rejection whereas a Hamas official mentioned the Palestinian group merely reiterated longstanding calls for not met by the present plan.
Egypt and Qatar mentioned that they had acquired Hamas’ response however didn’t disclose the contents.
Early on Wednesday, Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, mentioned in a press release the group’s reply was “responsible, serious and positive” and “opens up a wide pathway” for an accord.
Another Hamas official, who declined to be recognized, instructed Reuters Tuesday the response reaffirmed the motion’s stance {that a} cease-fire should result in a everlasting finish to hostilities in Gaza, withdrawal of Israeli forces, reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave and launch of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
“We reiterated our previous stance. I believe there are no big gaps. The ball is now in the Israeli courtyard,” the official mentioned.
The United States has mentioned Israel accepted its proposal, however Israel has not publicly said this. As Israel has continued assaults in central and southern Gaza which are among the many bloodiest of the conflict, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly mentioned Israel wouldn’t decide to an finish of its marketing campaign in Gaza earlier than Hamas is eradicated.
An Israeli official mentioned Tuesday the nation had acquired Hamas’ reply by way of the mediators and that Hamas “changed all of the main and most meaningful parameters.”
The Israeli official, who spoke on situation of anonymity, mentioned Hamas “has rejected the proposal for a hostage release that was presented by President Biden.”
Earlier a non-Israeli official briefed on the matter, who declined to be recognized, mentioned Hamas proposed a brand new timeline for a everlasting cease-fire with Israel and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, together with Rafah.
The U.N. Security Council voted Monday in favor of a U.S. decision supporting the proposal outlined by Biden. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri instructed Reuters on Tuesday that Hamas accepted the Security Council decision and was prepared to barter over the main points of a cease-fire.
For months, negotiators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have been attempting to mediate a cease-fire within the enclave of two.3 million folks.
The conflict was triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas incursion that brought on the demise of practically 1,200 folks and seized greater than 250 as hostages, in accordance with Israeli tallies.
Israel’s genocidal conflict on Gaza, compared, has killed greater than 37,000 Palestinians, the Gaza Health Ministry has mentioned, and diminished a lot of the slender, coastal enclave to wasteland, with malnutrition widespread.
Source: www.dailysabah.com