Hamas Says It’s Ready For A Ceasefire But Wants A Complete End To The Gaza War

CAIRO (AP) — Hamas recommended Wednesday that it was open to a ceasefire settlement with Israel, however stopped wanting accepting a U.S.-backed proposal introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump hours earlier, insisting on its longstanding place that any deal convey an finish to the war in Gaza.

Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed on phrases for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to simply accept the deal earlier than situations worsen. The U.S. chief has been rising stress on the Israeli authorities and Hamas to dealer a ceasefire, and hostage settlement and produce about an finish to the battle.

Trump stated the 60-day interval could be used to work towards ending the battle — one thing Israel says it gained’t settle for till Hamas is defeated. He stated {that a} deal would possibly come collectively as quickly as subsequent week.

However Hamas’ response, which emphasised its demand that the battle finish, raised questions on whether or not the newest provide may materialize into an precise pause in preventing.

Hamas official Taher al-Nunu stated that the militant group was “prepared and critical concerning reaching an settlement.”

He stated Hamas was “prepared to simply accept any initiative that clearly results in the whole finish to the battle.”

A Hamas delegation is predicted to fulfill with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to debate the proposal, in keeping with an Egyptian official. The official spoke on situation of anonymity, as a result of he wasn’t licensed to debate the talks with the media.

All through the practically 21-month-long battle, ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over whether or not the battle ought to finish as a part of any deal.

Hamas has stated that it’s keen to free the remaining 50 hostages, much less then half of whom are stated to be alive, in change for a whole Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an finish to the battle.

Israel says it’ll solely agree to finish the battle if Hamas surrenders, disarms and exiles itself, one thing the group refuses to do.

An Israeli official stated that the newest proposal requires a 60-day deal that would come with a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian assist to the territory. The mediators and the U.S. would offer assurances about talks on an finish to the battle, however Israel isn’t committing to that as a part of the newest proposal, the official stated.

The official wasn’t licensed to debate the main points of the proposed cope with the media, so spoke on situation of anonymity.

It wasn’t clear what number of hostages could be freed as a part of the settlement, however earlier proposals have known as for the discharge of about 10.

Israel has but to publicly touch upon Trump’s announcement. On Monday, Trump is about to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks on the White Home, days after Ron Dermer, a senior Netanyahu adviser, held discussions with prime U.S. officers about Gaza, Iran and different issues.

On Tuesday, Trump wrote on social media that Israel had “agreed to the required situations to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, throughout which era we’ll work with all events to finish the Battle.”

“I hope, for the nice of the Center East, that Hamas takes this Deal, as a result of it won’t get higher — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” he stated.

Trump’s warning might discover a skeptical viewers with Hamas. Even earlier than the expiration of the battle’s longest ceasefire in March, Trump has repeatedly issued dramatic ultimatums to stress Hamas to conform to longer pauses within the preventing that may see the discharge of extra hostages and a return of extra assist to Gaza’s civilian populace.

Nonetheless, Trump views the present second as a possible turning level within the brutal battle that has left more than 56,000 dead within the Palestinian territory. The Gaza Well being Ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its loss of life depend, however says that greater than half of the lifeless are girls and kids.

The battle started on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 folks and taking roughly 250 hostages.

The battle has left the coastal Palestinian territory in ruins, with a lot of the city panorama flattened within the preventing. Greater than 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants has been displaced, usually a number of occasions. And the battle has sparked a humanitarian disaster in Gaza, pushing lots of of 1000’s of individuals towards starvation.

Bassem Mroue reported from Beirut. Josef Federman contributed to this report from Jerusalem.

Comply with the AP’s battle protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.