GAZA: A senior Hamas official said on Sunday that the group would deliver its response to Israel’s latest counterproposal for a Gaza ceasefire on Monday in Egypt, AFP reported.
“A Hamas delegation headed by Khalil al-Hayya will arrive in Egypt tomorrow. The delegation will deliver the movement’s response” to the Israeli proposal during a meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials, the official, who requested anonymity, told AFP.
Egypt, acting as a mediator, sent its own delegation to Israel earlier this week in an effort to revive stalled negotiations amidst ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Since November, when a one-week cessation of hostilities saw the exchange of 80 Israeli hostages for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, diplomatic endeavors to broker a lasting ceasefire and facilitate prisoner releases have been ongoing but have yet to yield a comprehensive agreement.
Recent days have witnessed a heightened focus on diplomatic efforts to reach a truce and secure the release of hostages.
According to reports from Axios, citing Israeli officials, Israel’s latest proposal indicates a willingness to discuss establishing sustainable calm in Gaza following the release of hostages. This marks the first instance in the nearly seven-month-long conflict where Israeli leaders have expressed openness to dialogue aimed at ending the ongoing bombardment.
Hamas Expresses Openness to Truce Talks
A source close to the negotiations within Hamas expressed openness to discussing the new proposal positively, emphasizing the group’s commitment to achieving a permanent ceasefire, facilitating the return of displaced Palestinians, negotiating a prisoner exchange, and ending the Gaza siege.
The delegation is also expected to hold talks regarding an Egyptian proposal concerning a ceasefire and prisoner exchange as part of the broader effort to halt hostilities in Gaza. The source highlighted some progress in the Egyptian proposal, particularly in ensuring the safe return of displaced Palestinians and the security of civilians.
Al-Qahera News, affiliated with Egyptian intelligence services, reported notable progress in bridging the gap between the views of the Egyptian and Israeli delegations.
Negotiations to end the conflict have faced obstacles in recent weeks, with both sides accusing each other of undermining the peace process. Despite the challenges, diplomatic efforts persist as regional stakeholders strive to find a viable solution to the protracted conflict in Gaza.
Since the start of Israel’s offensive in Gaza on October 7, at least 34,454 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza.
