Hamas has given its approval to a cease-fire proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar, as reported on a Palestinian news site.
In a statement published on Shehab News Monday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh revealed that he had discussions with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel. During these conversations, Hamas communicated its acceptance of the proposed ceasefire agreement.
However, Israeli officials, as per Reuters, have stated that Hamas agreed to a modified version of the proposal by Egypt, which Israel is unwilling to accept. Israel has not provided an official response to the specific terms of the cease-fire endorsed by Hamas. Details regarding the potential release of hostages, Palestinian prisoners, or the duration of the cease-fire remain undisclosed.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller mentioned that the U.S. has recently received what appears to be Hamas' "response," but did not elaborate further on its contents.
President Biden has been informed about Hamas' reaction, according to Kirby.
The ongoing negotiations have been joined by CIA Director William Burns, who first traveled to Cairo and is now in Doha, Qatar.
Even before the surprise attack on Oct. 7, where more than 1,100 people were killed and over 250 hostages were taken, both the U.S. and Israel had already designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Israel's military issued a warning to approximately 100,000 Palestinians residing in the eastern area of Gaza city, Rafah, on Monday, urging them to evacuate in preparation for an imminent ground offensive that had been previously threatened by Israeli authorities. The warning was disseminated through the distribution of fliers, phone calls, messages, and media broadcasts in Arabic. This development comes after a weekend that saw the collapse of hopes for a new cease-fire in the ongoing seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas.
