Hamas Responds to Ceasefire Deal by Seeking Some Amendments, Talks Find Themselves in Turmoil
Image Source: The Guardian
Hamas gave its formal response to Biden’s ceasefire proposal on Tuesday, seeking to make some changes to the deal. While Israel claims that the response was an outright rejection, a Hamas official states that the group is merely reinstating longstanding demands that the current plan couldn’t meet.
Key mediators of the talks alongside the US, the foreign ministries of Egypt and Qatar, are also reported to have received the response but will not make any comments on the same. The talks are expected to continue with all mediating parties until a feasible agreement is reached, according to sources.
Following a joint announcement of the submission of their reply to mediators, Hamas said that its “positive” response to the U.S.-backed ceasefire plan opened up a “wide pathway” to reach an agreement. Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said to Al-Mayadeen television that the group had “submitted some remarks on the proposal to the mediators.” There were no elaborations made on the statement. Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha claims that their response entailed “amendments that confirm the ceasefire, withdrawal, reconstruction, and (prisoner) exchange.” Taha did not provide any further details. Washington is currently in the process of “evaluating” the response.
In Tel Aviv, prospects of reaching a ceasefire deal remain in vain. Although Biden had initially claimed that Israel accepted the proposal, Israel has failed to provide any public comments on the deal. Israel has engaged in continued assault in central and southern Gaza, which happens to be the bloodiest of the war, and Netanyahu vows to continue fighting in the region until Hamas is eliminated. An Israeli official who received Hamas’ response through mediators claims that the group has “changed all of the main and most meaningful parameters.” The anonymous official had also mentioned that Hamas “rejected” the proposal for hostage release.
Biden’s proposal includes a ceasefire and phased release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians held captive in Israel. From an initial withdrawal of the Israeli military from populated areas in Gaza and a six-week ceasefire, it would be a three-phase plan that is expected to ultimately lead to the end of the war. The plan has been in negotiations for months, through mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the US.
Although Biden had launched the proposal as an Israeli initiative, responses from Israel seem to be conflicting this view. Netanyahu has expressed his disagreement with aspects of the deal, saying that there were parts left out by the US President. Moreover, Hamas expresses their concern over whether the terms of the deal would be respected by Israel in the long run and seeks assurance for the same.
The ceasefire deal also received approval from the UN Security Council on Monday, with 14 out of 15 votes and Russia abstaining.
As neither Israel nor Palestine has expressed direct support for the deal, however, the outlook remains uncertain. Netanyahu faces pressure at home to secure a deal that would bring hostages back, while constant assault in Gaza poses a great threat to civilians. Recent reports show that Israeli restrictions have hindered efforts to bring humanitarian aid into the region, leading to widespread hunger in the region.
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