Hamas has approved a cease-fire proposal presented by Egypt and Qatar, according to a statement published on a Palestinian news site. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Egypt’s Intelligence Minister to inform them of the group’s acceptance of the proposal. However, Israeli officials have stated that the proposal was softened by Egypt and is not acceptable to Israel. Details regarding the release of hostages, Palestinian prisoners, or the duration of the cease-fire have not been disclosed by either side.
The U.S. State Department has confirmed that it has received a response from Hamas regarding the cease-fire proposal. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the U.S. is reviewing the response and discussing it with regional partners. The U.S. believes that a hostage deal would be beneficial for both Israeli and Palestinian people and could lead to an immediate cease-fire. It is unclear which proposal Hamas accepted, and National Security Council spokesman John Kirby declined to provide further details on the matter.
CIA Director William Burns has been involved in the negotiations, traveling to Cairo and Doha to participate in the talks. President Biden has been briefed on Hamas’ response, and he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about efforts to secure a hostage deal. The White House confirmed the conversation between Biden and Netanyahu took place before reports of Hamas’ response emerged. The situation remains fluid as negotiations continue between the involved parties.
Hamas was already labeled a terrorist group by the U.S. and Israel before the recent escalation in violence. The conflict began with a surprise attack by Hamas, resulting in casualties and hostages. Israel’s military has warned Palestinians in Gaza City to evacuate ahead of a potential ground offensive that has been threatened for some time. The call for evacuation was made through various channels, including fliers, phone calls, messages, and media broadcasts in Arabic. The hopes for a new cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war have been dashed once again.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in a cycle of violence and tensions in the region. The latest developments indicate a willingness from Hamas to consider a cease-fire proposal, but the specifics of the agreement are still unclear. The involvement of the U.S. in the negotiations, along with discussions between regional partners, highlights the international efforts to address the conflict and achieve a resolution. The situation remains delicate, with the threat of further escalations looming as talks continue between the parties involved in the conflict.
