Hamas said on Wednesday that its response to a U.S. ceasefire plan for the Gaza war against Israel opened a “broad path” for reaching an agreement, but neither the terror group nor Israel have publicly committed to a deal.
The terrorist group Hamas on Tuesday submitted a formal response to a proposal put forward by U.S. President Joe Biden on May 31. Israel said the response was tantamount to a rejection and that Hamas had repeated long-standing demands that are not included in the current plan.
Egypt and Qatar said they had received a response from Hamas but did not provide details of the response.
This comes amid months of war between Hamas and Israel after the terror group attacked the Jewish state of Hamas on October 7, leading to military retaliation by the Israeli army.
UN says Israeli hostage rescue raid may have involved war crimes on both sides
An Israeli military vehicle moves through the Gaza Strip during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in this photo taken in Israel on June 10, 2024. (Reuters)
Izzat al-Rishq of Hamas’ political bureau said in a statement that the group’s response was “responsible, serious and positive” and “paved the way” significantly towards an agreement.
A second Hamas official told Reuters on Tuesday that the response reiterated Hamas’s position that a ceasefire must end fighting in Gaza permanently, Israeli troops must withdraw, Palestinian territories must be rebuilt and Palestinian prisoners in Israel must be released.
“We have reiterated our previous position,” the Hamas official said. “I don’t think there is a big gap. The ball is now in Israel’s yard.”
Biden’s plan proposes a ceasefire and the gradual release of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, which would eventually lead to a permanent end to the war between Hamas and Israel.
The United States has said Israel has accepted the proposal, but Israel has not publicly acknowledged it has done so. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel will not stop its attacks on Gaza until Hamas is removed.
Israeli officials said on Tuesday they had received a response from Hamas, which “changed all the main and most important conditions.” The Israeli official said Hamas “rejected the proposal for the release of the hostages put forward by President Biden.”
UN Security Council passes US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal
Family members and supporters protest outside a meeting also attended by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, demanding the immediate release of hostages kidnapped in a deadly Oct. 7 attack, in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 11, 2024, as the conflict in the Gaza Strip continues between Israel and Hamas. (Reuters)
Earlier, officials outside Israel who were briefed on the matter said Hamas had proposed a permanent ceasefire and a new timetable for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The UN Security Council on Monday voted in favour of a US resolution backing President Biden’s proposal, and senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters his organisation accepted the resolution and was open to negotiating the details of a ceasefire.
Click here to get the FOX News app
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who visited Tel Aviv on Tuesday to meet with Israeli officials, said Hamas’ response was a “sign of hope” but not decisive.
“What’s more important is a statement from Gaza and the Hamas leadership in Gaza. That’s key and that’s what we haven’t got yet,” Blinken told reporters.
Reuters contributed to this report.
