Hamas announced early today (Saturday) that it is reviewing Israel’s response to a proposal for a possible ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held in the territory.
Khalil Al-Hayya, Deputy Head of Hamas in Gaza, stated in a release: “Today, Hamas received the official Zionist occupation’s response to the position of the movement, which was delivered to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators on April 13th. The movement will review this proposal and upon completion of the review, will deliver its response.”
On April 13, Hamas declared that it had delivered its response to a ceasefire proposal with Israel to the Egyptian and Qatari mediators, emphasizing its adherence to its demands and the national demands of the people, which include a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of the army from all of Gaza, the return of displaced persons to their areas and homes, increased entry of relief and aid, and the start of reconstruction.
In contrast, Israel refuses a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of its forces from Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his intention to conduct a ground operation in Rafah at the southernmost part of the sector, considering the city as the last major stronghold of Hamas.
This comes at a time when an Egyptian delegation arrived in Israel on Friday, in an attempt to revive negotiations regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip linked to the release of hostages.
The ‘Cairo News Channel’ reported that there is “noticeable progress in bridging the views between the Egyptian and Israeli delegations regarding reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.”
Recent efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza have been marked by significant diplomatic involvement and challenges. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has been active in facilitating discussions, leveraging international support for at least a humanitarian pause in the fighting to allow for the release of hostages and the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza.
In light of escalating violence, the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza, aiming to halt hostilities between Israeli forces and Hamas. This nonbinding resolution reflects the growing international pressure for a ceasefire, though actual implementation remains uncertain given the complex dynamics on the ground.
