Hamas Voices Conditional Acceptance of US-Brokered Truce in Gaza
U.S. ceasefire proposal partially accepted by Hamas - Hamas accepts a partial U.S. truce proposal
In a statement via their Telegram channel, Hamas partially endorses the truce proposal put forward by US mediator Steve Witkoff, with some reservations. Notably, Hamas is inclined to a limited release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners being freed by Israel.
Witkoff's plan incorporates the exchange of 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 more captives during a 60-day ceasefire. It should be noted that Israel assumes there are around 20-23 captive Israelis and at least 35 bodies of those kidnapped by Hamas are currently in custody.
Controversies Surrounding the US Plan's Other Stipulations
The Witkoff plan indicates that both sides will engage in negotiations regarding the rest of the hostages' release once the 60-day ceasefire is in place.
Subsequently, Hamas has indicated that it requires guarantees against the resumption of hostilities, as this aspect has been a primary demand of theirs. Reportedly, the guarantees against renewed aggression were included in the response to Witkoff.
Israel's government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently opposes a ceasefire that could lead to the release of all hostages and the termination of the conflict. Critics allege that the Israeli government wishes to prolong the confrontation for domestic political reasons.
Dire Humanitarian Concerns in Gaza
In light of the partial approval and considerable losses suffered in the conflict, Hamas seems to be aligning more with Israel in the negotiations. This shift may also be related to the urgent humanitarian crisis unfolding in the densely populated Gaza Strip, where food scarcity looms large.
Sources report that Hamas' response to the Witkoff plan includes several stipulations intended to modify it. Among these demands, Hamas seeks a longer duration for the release of hostages than outlined in the US mediator's plan. Additionally, Hamas calls for a more extensive Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip following the implementation of the ceasefire, compared to the proposed scenario in the Witkoff plan.
- Gaza
- Hamas
- Ceasefire
- Steve Witkoff
- Humanitarian Aid
- Israel
- Palestinian Prisoners
- Hostages
- USA
The Commission is also proposing to extend the scope of the programme to include the following areas: politics, general-news, war-and-conflicts. In this context, the proposed discussions might cover the unprecedented truce negotiations between Hamas in Gaza and Israel, facilitated by the US mediator Steve Witkoff, which involve the release of Palestinian prisoners, Israeli hostages, and the possibility of humanitarian aid.
