Key points
- If agreed to, ceasefire could coincide with Eid al-Fitr
- Israel has continued violence in Gaza, West Bank
- Hamas warns Israel against further bombing in Gaza
ISLAMABAD: Hamas says it supports resuming a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip through a proposal put
forward by mediators which would see five more hostages released to Israel in exchange for a 50-day truce.
Khalil al-Hayyam, the most senior Hamas leader outside Gaza, said the group had approved a draft deal sent by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
BBC reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it had also received the plan, and submitted a “counter-proposal to the mediators in full co-ordination with the United States”.
If agreed to, the new limited ceasefire agreement could coincide with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr which began on Sunday.
“Two days ago, we received a proposal from the mediating brothers in Egypt and Qatar. We dealt with it positively and approved it. We hope that the occupation (Israel) will not obstruct it,” Khalil al-Haya said in a televised address for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
“The weapons of the resistance are a red line,” he added.
Two days ago, we received a proposal from the mediating brothers in Egypt and Qatar. We dealt with it positively and approved it.” – Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, yesterday, held a series of consultations pursuant to the proposal that was received from the mediators,” Netanyahu’s office confirmed.
“A few hours ago, Israel conveyed to the mediators a counter-proposal in full coordination with the US,” it said without elaborating.
Gaining momentum
A day earlier, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim had said talks between the Palestinian Islamist movement and mediators over a ceasefire deal were gaining momentum as Israel continues intensive violence in Gaza, AFP reported.
Palestinian sources close to Hamas had told AFP that talks began Thursday evening between the group and mediators from Egypt and Qatar to revive a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
The fragile truce that had brought weeks of relative calm to the Gaza Strip ended on March 18 when Israel resumed its bombing campaign across the territory.
The talks in Doha started a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to seize parts of Gaza if Hamas did not release hostages, and Hamas warned the captives would return “in coffins” if Israel did not stop bombing the Palestinian territory.
