DOHA: Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh on Thursday said that the Palestinian resistance group was studying an Israeli proposal for a truce in the nearly seven-month war raging in Gaza with a “positive spirit”.
In a call to Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, Haniyeh said he “appreciated the role played by Egypt”, which along with Qatar and the United States is mediating the talks, and “stressed the positive spirit of the movement in studying the ceasefire proposal”, according to a statement on Hamas’s official website.
The proposed truce, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, entails a cessation of hostilities for 40 days and includes the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. However, the outcome of the talks remains uncertain, with significant disagreements persisting over the terms of the agreement.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his visit to Israel, urged Hamas to accept the truce plan, emphasizing the need for immediate relief for the Palestinian people. “Hamas needs to say yes and needs to get this done,” Blinken said. He insisted that “if Hamas actually purports to care about the Palestinian people and wants to see an immediate alleviation of their suffering, it should take this deal”.
Despite the efforts towards a ceasefire, differences in objectives between Hamas and Israel continue to pose challenges. Hamas’s goal, as articulated by senior official Suhail al-Hindi, remains an “end to this war,” while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue military operations in Gaza even after a truce is reached.
Haniyeh’s announcement signals a potential shift in Hamas’s position, contradicting previous indications of a negative stance towards the truce proposal. The Palestinian group’s delegation is expected to return to Egypt for further discussions aimed at reaching an agreement that addresses the demands of the Palestinian people and brings an end to the aggression.
According to reports from Egyptian state-linked media, a Hamas delegation is set to arrive in Cairo within the next two days to continue negotiations for the truce.
Comments from other Hamas officials in recent days had suggested the movement’s position on the truce proposal was “negative” for the time being. But in his call Thursday, Haniyeh confirmed that the movement’s delegation would go back to Egypt “as soon as possible to complete the ongoing discussions”.
The aim of those talks, Haniyeh said, would be “reaching an agreement that fulfils the demands of our people and stops the aggression”.
Meanwhile, Israeli government spokeswoman Raquela Karamson blamed Hamas for hindering progress towards a deal, accusing the Palestinian group of imposing unreasonable demands and refusing to compromise.
Since October 7, Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza killing at least 34,596 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
