In a significant development, Hamas has indicated a willingness to reconsider its demand for Israel to commit to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza before signing an agreement for a temporary truce and the release of hostages. This change in stance was confirmed by a senior Hamas official and initially reported by Reuters, amid intensified efforts towards reaching an agreement.
The revised position suggests that Hamas would now accept negotiations on a permanent ceasefire to occur during the first phase of any deal, which is expected to last six weeks, the official told CNN. This shift raises the possibility of reaching a deal, which has been elusive due to Hamas’s long-standing demand for an immediate and permanent ceasefire—a condition Israel has found unacceptable.
According to the Hamas official, who is part of the negotiating team and spoke on the condition of anonymity, mediators would guarantee a temporary truce, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, provided indirect talks on implementing the second phase of the agreement continue.
The proposal includes starting discussions on releasing Israeli men and soldiers held in Gaza no later than 16 days after the first phase begins. Israeli media had previously reported on a draft plan outlining similar terms, though the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has not confirmed the authenticity of that draft.
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed in Qatar this week after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized his team to engage in detailed negotiations. Mossad director David Barea met with mediators in Qatar to discuss a potential new framework for a ceasefire and hostage release agreement. Despite these efforts, the PMO has stated that “there are still gaps” between the parties.
Efforts to secure a deal have been stalled for months. Netanyahu faces pressure from far-right cabinet ministers and hostage families to ensure their release, while maintaining that Israel will not cease its military campaign until Hamas is dismantled.
A three-phase Israeli proposal, unveiled by U.S. President Joe Biden in May, aimed to set conditions for the eventual release of all hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. This proposal comes in the wake of Israel’s offensive in Gaza following Hamas’s October 7 attacks, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths. The ongoing conflict has since claimed more than 38,000 lives.
Comments