After sources revealed that Israel presented an official written and updated proposal to Qatar, Egypt, and the United States on Monday, for a potential agreement to release prisoners detained in Gaza, which could lead to a temporary ceasefire, the Palestinian Hamas movement affirmed that it has not received any new proposals to return to negotiations.
Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, stated in an interview with “Al Arabiya/Al Hadath” that Israel is heading towards genocide, not negotiations.
He further stated, “We informed the mediators of our refusal to negotiate while the Rafah operation continues.”
Hamad also mentioned that Israel is moving in the opposite direction of negotiation, indicating that it is not serious about ceasing fire.
“We want a text that ensures Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and we will agree to it,” he added.
Detailed and Expanded Proposal
The updated Israeli proposal, presented to the main mediators Qatar and Egypt, was detailed and expanded regarding the general principles outlined by Mossad Director David Barnea during the meeting in Paris last Friday, according to Axios.
US and Israeli officials indicated that a meeting in Paris last Friday between CIA Director Bill Burns, the head of Mossad, and the Qatari Prime Minister made progress towards the potential resumption of prisoner negotiations in Gaza.
The updated Israeli proposal includes “readiness to be flexible” regarding the number of living prisoners to be released in the first humanitarian stage of the deal, in addition to readiness to discuss Hamas’ demand for “sustainable calm” in the Gaza Strip, according to the source.
A Halt in Rafah Operation Complicates Efforts
The Israeli military operation in Rafah, which began in early May, and the killing of 45 Palestinian civilians in an Israeli airstrike on a camp in the city on Sunday, added another layer of complexity to efforts to reach an agreement.
The White House sees the prisoner deal as the only practical way to halt the ceasefire and potentially end the war, which became a political issue for Biden before the presidential elections.
