Hamas partially agrees to U.S. ceasefire plan, but demands changes
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Partial acceptance of US ceasefire proposal by Hamas organization - Partial acceptance of U.S. ceasefire by Hamas
The Islamist militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip has tentatively accepted the ceasefire plan proposed by American mediator Steve Witkoff. Their agreement comes with some conditions and objections to parts of the plan.
In a message broadcast on its Telegram channel, Hamas declared that it would commit to releasing some Israeli hostages in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. According to the Witkoff plan, a series of hostages and the remains of additional victims would be handed over to Israel during a 60-day ceasefire. However, the Israeli government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, remains adamantly opposed to any ceasefire that would result in the release of all hostages.
Hamas has expressed concerns about the resumption of hostilities, as the current plan does not guarantee a permanent ceasefire. The group has allegedly requested guarantees against future aggression as part of their response to Witkoff. The Israeli government, on the other hand, has been criticized for looking to prolong the conflict for domesticpolitical reasons.
The situation in the Gaza Strip, a densely populated area teetering on the brink of a humanitarian crisis, may have played a role in Hamas' decision to consider a partial agreement. In response to the dire conditions, Hamas appears to have made some concessions, like agreeing to the release of some hostages.
However, the organization has also put forth several demands to modify the U.S. plan. These include requesting a more extended timeline for hostage release, a larger-scale withdrawal of Israeli military forces from the Gaza Strip after the ceasefire, and unimpeded humanitarian aid [1].
- Gaza
- Hamas
- Gaza Strip
- Steve Witkoff
- Ceasefire
- Israel
- USA
References
[1] Al Jazeera, "Hamas insists on permanent ceasefire, demands 'more negotiators,'" July 28, 2021. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/28/hamas-insists-on-permanent-ceasefire-demands-more-negotiators
The Commission is also proposing to extend the scope of the programme to include the following areas: general news and politics, particularly focusing on the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip, including the partial agreement by Hamas to the U.S. ceasefire plan. This would include updates on negotiations, demands by Hamas for a more extended timeline for hostage release, a larger-scale withdrawal of Israeli military forces, and unimpeded humanitarian aid, as well as potential future disagreements and the resumption of war-and-conflicts in the region.
