New York: A senior Hamas leader stated on Thursday that the amendments proposed by Hamas to a ceasefire proposal by the United States are “not significant”, emphasizing their insistence on the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, as reported by the international news agency Reuters.
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged Hamas had suggested numerous changes, some deemed unworkable, to the U.S.-backed proposal. Despite this, mediators are determined to bridge the gaps.
While the U.S. has indicated Israel’s acceptance of its proposal, Israel has not publicly confirmed this stance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently stated that Israel will continue its campaign until Hamas is dismantled.
The Hamas official revealed that their organization demanded the release of a list of 100 Palestinians serving long sentences in Israeli jails. They criticized an Israeli document that excluded these prisoners and restricted releases to those with less than 15 years remaining on their sentences.
“There are no significant amendments that, according to Hamas leadership, warrant objection,” reiterated the Hamas leader.
Additionally, Hamas’s demands encompass Gaza’s reconstruction, the lifting of the blockade with open border crossings, unrestricted movement of people, and free transportation of goods, according to the senior Hamas leader.
Efforts by U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari negotiators over months aim to mediate a ceasefire in the conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and devastated the densely populated enclave, also seeking the release of over 100 hostages believed to be held in Gaza.
Amid fears of escalating hostilities along the Lebanese-Israeli border, major global powers are intensifying efforts to defuse the conflict to prevent its expansion into a broader Middle East war.
The Gaza conflict erupted on October 7, initiated by Hamas-led militants crossing the border, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the taking of over 250 hostages, as per Israeli reports. Since then, Israel’s air and ground operations have reportedly claimed over 37,000 Palestinian lives, displaced a significant portion of Gaza’s 2.3 million population, and severely damaged housing and infrastructure, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
