Hamas Agrees to US Proposal for Israeli Hostage Talks: Report

Photo : Reuters

Hamas has insisted that Israel must commit to a permanent ceasefire before agreeing to sign a deal aimed at ending the nine-month-old conflict in Gaza. According to a senior Hamas source speaking to Reuters on Saturday, Hamas has accepted a US proposal to initiate negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages, starting 16 days after the first phase of the ceasefire deal.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks, stated that Hamas demands Israel's commitment to a lasting ceasefire as a precondition for signing the agreement. Talks toward achieving this goal will be allowed during the initial six-week phase.

A Palestinian official involved in the mediated truce efforts indicated that the proposal, if accepted by Israel, could pave the way for a framework agreement to end the Gaza conflict that began on October 7 last year.

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The conflict has resulted in over 38,000 casualties in Gaza, initiated by Hamas militants launching attacks on southern Israeli cities via air, land, and sea, which included taking approximately 250 hostages. Around 1,200 people have died in the attacks.

According to the Hamas source, the US proposal includes assurances from mediators for a temporary ceasefire, humanitarian aid delivery, and Israeli troop withdrawal, contingent upon ongoing indirect talks to implement the agreement's second phase.

Efforts by Arab mediators, supported by the US, have thus far not succeeded in achieving a lasting ceasefire, with both sides attributing blame for the stalemate.

Hamas has insisted that any agreement must result in the cessation of hostilities and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. In contrast, Israel has indicated a willingness only to consider temporary ceasefires until Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, is neutralized.

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