Hamas Says It Is Considering Ceasefire Proposal, Calls For End To Gaza War (image-instagram/mahmoudhamda)
Hamas, the Palestinian resistance group, in a statement on Wednesday said that they are studying the proposal for a temporary ceasefire and seeking an agreement that would bring an end to Israel’s war. The group had said that they have received proposals from the mediators and are holding talks with them to “bridge gaps” to return to the negotiating table and try to reach a ceasefire agreement.
The proposal included ensuring the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave as well. The recent development has come following United States President Donald Trump saying Israel had agreed to a proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before the scenario worsens.
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Trump has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and an agreement for the group to release the Israeli captives held in Gaza.
As Trump is due to meet their long-time ally, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, next week, he had announced that the 60-day period would be used to work towards ending the war. However, Israel has constantly stated that they will not end the war until Hamas is defeated. But Hamas’s announcement, which emphasised its demand that the war end, raised questions about whether the latest offer could materialise into an actual pause in fighting.
However, shortly after Hamas’s statement, Netanyahu said that there will be no Hamas in post-war Gaza. According to the US-based Axios news outlet, Israeli officials have warned that they would escalate the military operation in Gaza if ceasefire negotiations do not advance soon. The proposal, though, has not been publicly backed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
As for the Palestinians in Gaza, many say that they do not trust Trump, as at several times the ceasefires announced failed to materialise, reports Al Jazeera.
Amidst ceasefire talks, Israeli forces in Gaza had killed at least 78 people on Wednesday. Hospital officials said four children and seven women were among the dead. Among the victims was Dr. Marwan al-Sultan, who was a key source of information from Gaza, reporting on the conditions of Palestinians in the north of the besieged enclave.
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Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 56,647 people and wounded 134,105, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The war has left the coastal territory in ruins, and more than 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has been displaced.
