War on Gaza: Hamas delivers official response to ceasefire proposal
Palestinian group says counter-offer prioritises the 'necessity to completely stop' the Israeli 'aggression' on Gaza
Hamas leader
Ismail Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad Al Nakhalaj discuss the
ceasefire proposal before they respond to Qatari and Egyptian mediators
in Doha, Qatar, 11 June 2024 (Hamas Media Office/Handout via Reuters)
Published date: 11 June 2024
Hamas gave its official response on Tuesday to Israeli demands in the latest US-mediated ceasefire proposal, capping days of waiting for an official reply from the Palestinian group.
In a joint statement with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, Hamas
said the response prioritises the "necessity to completely stop the
ongoing aggression on Gaza and the withdrawal [of occupation forces]
from the entire Gaza Strip".
Mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US confirmed receiving the Palestinian response. Washington said it was "evaluating" it.
The content of Hamas' counter-offer were not immediately made public.
Sources have told AFP and Reuters that Hamas proposed "amendments" to the latest offer it received on 27 May, which was revealed in full exclusively by MEE last week.
Hamas officials previously said they sought more guarantees that the
deal, which was also outlined by US President Joe Biden last month,
would lead to a permanent end to the Israeli war on Gaza.
A Hamas official, who declined to be identified, told Reuters on
Tuesday the response reaffirmed the stance that a ceasefire "must lead
to a permanent end to hostilities, withdrawal of Israeli forces,
reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave and release 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 said.
A non-Israeli official briefed on the talks, who declined to be
identified, told Reuters that Hamas proposed a new timeline for a
permanent ceasefire with Israel and withdrawal of Israeli troops from
Gaza, including Rafah.
An unnamed Israeli official cited by Reuters said Hamas effectively rejected the ceasefire proposal as outlined by Biden.
The anonymous source said the group "changed all of the main and most meaningful parameters".
Hamas's official response comes a day after the UN Security Council
voted in support of a US-backed resolution calling for a ceasefire in
Gaza and a prisoner swap.
Months-long talks
Hamas said it "welcomed" the resolution and expressed "readiness" to
implement its principles through indirect talks with Israel. There was
no official response from Israel
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Hamas's statement was a
"hopeful sign" but he continued to pressure the group, suggesting that
the public comments didn't amount to an official response delivered via
mediators Qatar and Egypt.
"Everyone's vote is in, except for one vote, and that's Hamas," Blinken said.
Blinken, who has been on a regional tour that included stops in Cairo, Tel Aviv and Amman, is expected in Doha on Wednesday.
Indirect talks between Hamas and Israel have been ongoing for months.
Biden cast them into an unprecedented public view on 31 May, when he
laid out the details of a three-phase agreement that he characterised as
an Israeli proposal for a permanent cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
Despite an immediate positive response to Biden's speech, Hamas soon expressed doubts about the deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Biden's suggestion
that the deal would lead to an end of the war, saying that Israel would
continue fighting in Gaza until it eliminates Hamas's governing and
military capabilities.
In response, Hamas sought written guarantees from mediators that a ceasefire would follow an initial prisoner exchange.