Hamas Expresses Willingness to Consider Proposals for Permanent Ceasefire in Gaza
Hamas, the Palestinian resistance organization, has declared its willingness to agree to a ceasefire on the condition that it results in a full cessation of hostilities in the blockaded region and encompasses the total withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area.
On Saturday, the group reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire agreement that was put forward by mediators on August 18, alongside other Palestinian factions.
The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire agreement reached with Palestinian factions based on the mediators’ proposal from August 18, according to a statement released by the group.
The Movement expressed its willingness to consider any suggestions or proposals aimed at establishing a lasting ceasefire, ensuring the complete withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, facilitating the unconditional entry of aid, and achieving a genuine prisoner exchange through earnest negotiations mediated by intermediaries, according to the statement.
Negotiations that occurred in Cairo last month among representatives from Hamas, as well as Egyptian and Qatari officials, have resulted in a proposed agreement.
Egyptian sources have revealed that the recent ceasefire proposal put forward by Hamas includes a 60-day suspension of hostilities. This initiative is viewed as a potential stepping stone towards a comprehensive agreement aimed at concluding the nearly two-year conflict, which has resulted in the deaths of approximately 64,400 Palestinians.
During the suspension period, Palestinian detainees, held without legal authority in Israeli prisons, are set to be exchanged for half of the 20 living Israeli captives currently held in Gaza.
In a recent announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is no longer willing to accept partial agreements. He stated that a resolution to the conflict will only be considered if Hamas agrees to release all captives simultaneously, disarm, and permit the demilitarization of Gaza.
In a recent statement, Israel’s Minister of Military Affairs, Israel Katz, issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating that if they fail to comply with Israel’s demands, Gaza City could face the same destruction as Rafah and Beit Hanoun, areas already heavily impacted by Israeli bombardments and ground operations.
On August 8, the Israeli cabinet approved what has been described as an illegal plan to occupy Gaza City and initiate a ground assault. Since the decision, approximately 1,100 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Gaza City.
Israeli forces continue their push into Gaza City, aiming to relocate approximately one million Palestinians to designated areas in the southern part of the besieged region, as they advance further into the territory’s largest urban center.
On Friday, the Israeli military declared the creation of an additional “humanitarian zone” in the al-Mawasi region of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, encouraging residents of Gaza City to relocate southward.
The al-Mawasi tent encampment, initially designated as a “humanitarian” or “safe” zone at the beginning of the conflict, is grappling with extreme overcrowding. Despite its intended purpose as a sanctuary, the area has been repeatedly bombed, leading to the tragic deaths of hundreds of civilians who sought refuge within its confines.
