Hamas on Saturday mentioned it was prepared to start out talks “immediately” on a proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza the place the civil protection company mentioned Israel’s ongoing offensive killed 20 folks.
The announcement got here after it held consultations with different Palestinian factions and earlier than a go to on Monday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, the place President Donald Trump is pushing for an finish to the battle, now in its twenty first month.
“The movement is ready to engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations on the mechanism to put in place” the phrases of a draft U.S.-backed truce proposal obtained from mediators, the group mentioned in an announcement.
Trump, when requested about Hamas’s response aboard Air Force One on Friday, mentioned: “That’s good. They haven’t briefed me on it. We have to get it over with. We have to do something about Gaza.”
The battle in Gaza started with Hamas’s October 2023 assault, towards which Israel launched an enormous offensive, claiming it’s aimed toward destroying Hamas and bringing residence all of the hostages seized by the group however relentlessly focusing on civilians.
On Friday, Netanyahu once more pledged to convey residence the hostages, after coming underneath huge home strain over their destiny.
Two earlier ceasefires mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have seen short-term halts in preventing, coupled with the return of Israeli hostages in change for Palestinian prisoners.
60-day truce proposal
Efforts to dealer a brand new truce have repeatedly failed, with the first level of rivalry being Israel’s rejection of Hamas’s demand for ensures that any new cease-fire will probably be lasting.
A earlier spherical of talks broke down in May with Hamas and Israel buying and selling blame for its failure.
The Palestinian group mentioned it had given a “positive response” to a truce proposal from U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff, however its request for a assure that hostilities wouldn’t resume had been rejected by Israel.
A Palestinian supply conversant in the negotiations advised AFP earlier this week that the most recent proposal included “a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release half of the living Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip” – thought to quantity 22 – “in change for Israel releasing various Palestinian prisoners and detainees”.
Out of 251 hostages seized by Hamas throughout the October 2023 assault, 49 are nonetheless held in Gaza, together with 27 the Israeli army says are useless.
Nearly 21 months of Israel’s assaults have created dire humanitarian situations for the greater than two million folks within the Gaza Strip, the place Israel has lately expanded its army operations.
Civil defence says colleges hit
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal mentioned Israeli army operations killed 20 folks throughout the war-battered territory on Saturday.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas imply AFP is unable to independently confirm the tolls and particulars offered by the civil defence company.
Bassal mentioned 5 of the useless have been killed in a strike on a college in Gaza City.
A second strike close to one other faculty within the metropolis the place displaced civilians had discovered shelter killed three folks and wounded round 10, together with youngsters, he mentioned.
Many Gazans have sought shelter in colleges and different public buildings for the reason that battle started with Hamas’s October 2023 assault on Israel.
Contacted by AFP, the Israeli army mentioned it couldn’t touch upon particular strikes with out exact coordinates.
The civil defence company mentioned Israeli strikes and gunfire killed no less than 52 folks on Friday.
The Hamas assault of October 2023 resulted within the deaths of 1,219 folks, largely civilians, in line with an AFP tally based mostly on Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory army marketing campaign has killed no less than 57,268 folks in Gaza, additionally largely civilians, in line with the Hamas-run territory’s well being ministry. The United Nations considers the figures dependable.
Source: www.dailysabah.com