Cairo: Hamas remains in anticipation of Israel’s response to its ceasefire proposal, as confirmed by two officials from the Palestinian group on Sunday. This development comes five days after Hamas accepted a pivotal component of a U.S.-endorsed plan aimed at resolving the protracted nine-month conflict in Gaza.
“We have left our response with the mediators and are waiting to hear the occupation’s response,” disclosed one of the Hamas officials to Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The comprehensive three-phase plan for Gaza was initially presented by U.S. President Joe Biden in late May and is being facilitated through mediation efforts led by Qatar and Egypt. Its primary objectives include halting hostilities and securing the release of approximately 120 Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Another Palestinian official, briefed on the ongoing ceasefire deliberations, revealed that Israel is actively engaged in discussions with Qatar. “They have discussed with them Hamas’ response and they promised to give them Israel’s response within days,” the official added, also requesting anonymity.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has affirmed that negotiations will continue throughout the week but has refrained from specifying a definitive timeline.
In a tragic escalation later in the day, an Israeli airstrike targeted a church-run school in western Gaza City, resulting in the loss of Ehab Al-Ghussein, Hamas-appointed deputy minister of labour, and three others. This incident, which also claimed the lives of Ghussein’s wife and children in a prior May airstrike, was reported by Hamas media and the Civil Emergency Service.
The Israeli military has acknowledged the incident and is conducting an investigation into the circumstances.
Hamas, governing Gaza, has notably adjusted its approach by waiving its earlier demand for Israel to commit to an immediate permanent ceasefire before signing any agreement. Instead, Hamas has indicated readiness to engage in negotiations aimed at achieving this objective over a preliminary six-week phase, according to a Hamas source who spoke to Reuters on Saturday under strict anonymity due to the sensitivity of the ongoing discussions.
A Palestinian official closely involved in the peace efforts expressed optimism that if Israel embraces the proposal, it could potentially pave the way for a comprehensive framework agreement to conclusively end the conflict.
In a significant diplomatic move, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns is scheduled to travel to Qatar this week for further negotiations, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The conflict initially erupted nine months ago on October 7, sparked by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel from Gaza. Official Israeli statistics report casualties totaling 1,200 and approximately 250 hostages seized during the deadliest assault in Israel’s history.
