Hamas rejects report that it dropped key demand in possible cease-fire deal

Hamas says that experiences that the militant group has dropped a key demand throughout ongoing discussions for a cease-fire deal are inaccurate, a senior Hamas official advised CBS on Sunday.

The official stated the militant group – which managed Gaza earlier than triggering the battle with an Oct. 7 assault on Israel – has not dropped the demand that Israel give an up-front dedication for an entire finish to the battle.

The Hamas official’s remarks come a day after the Related Press, citing a Hamas and an Egyptian official, reported concerning the obvious compromise. The AP stated that whereas it might set the stage for additional talks to finish the devastating 9 months of combating, all sides cautioned {that a} deal continues to be not assured.

The 2 officers, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate ongoing negotiations, advised the Related Press that Washington’s phased deal would first embody a “full and full” six-week cease-fire that will see the discharge of a variety of hostages, together with ladies, older individuals and the wounded, in trade for the discharge of a whole lot of Palestinian prisoners. In the course of the 42 days, Israeli forces would withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza and permit the return of displaced individuals to their properties in northern Gaza, the officers stated.

Over that interval, Hamas, Israel and mediators would negotiate the phrases of the second part that might see the discharge of the remaining male hostages, each civilians and troopers, the officers stated. In return, Israel would free further Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The third part would see the return of any remaining hostages, together with our bodies of useless captives, and the beginning of a years-long reconstruction mission.

Hamas nonetheless desires “written ensures” from mediators that Israel will proceed to barter a everlasting cease-fire deal as soon as the primary part goes into impact, the officers stated.

The Hamas consultant advised The Related Press the group’s approval got here after it obtained “verbal commitments and ensures” from the mediators that the battle will not be resumed and that negotiations will proceed till a everlasting cease-fire is reached.

“Now we would like these ensures on paper,” he stated.

In step with earlier proposals, the deal would see round 600 vans of humanitarian help coming into Gaza every day — together with 50 gasoline vans — with half of them sure for the hard-hit northern of the enclave, the 2 officers stated. Following Israel’s assault on the southernmost metropolis of Rafah, help provides coming into Gaza have been diminished to a trickle.

Israel launched the battle in Gaza after Hamas’ October assault by which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 individuals — principally civilians — and kidnapped about 250. Israel says Hamas continues to be holding about 120 hostages — a couple of third of them now considered useless.

Since then, the Israeli air and floor offensive has killed greater than 38,000 individuals in Gaza, in line with the Hamas-run Well being Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between combatants and civilians in its depend. The offensive has triggered widespread devastation and a humanitarian disaster that has left a whole lot of hundreds of individuals on the point of famine, in line with worldwide officers.

Months of on-again off-again cease-fire talks have stumbled over Hamas’ demand that any deal embody a whole finish to the battle. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has supplied to pause the combating however not finish it till Israel reaches its targets of destroying Hamas’ navy and governing capabilities and returning all hostages held by the militant group.

Netanyahu’s workplace didn’t reply to requests for remark, and there was no instant remark from Washington.

CBS Information beforehand reported that an Israel delegation headed by Mossad Director David Barnea was touring to Qatar for talks. Sources advised CBS Information that Barnea was set to fulfill with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for discussions.

On Friday, the Israeli prime minister confirmed that the spy company’s chief had paid a lightning go to to Qatar, a key mediator. However his workplace stated “gaps between the events” remained.

President Biden held a 30-minute name with Netanyahu on Thursday, a senior Biden administration official advised reporters, throughout which the 2 leaders walked by means of the most recent draft of the proposal.

U.S. officers have stated the most recent proposal has new language that was proposed to Egypt and Qatar on Saturday and addresses oblique negotiations which can be set to begin in the course of the first part of the three-phase deal that Mr. Biden laid out in a Might 31 speech.

Hamas has expressed concern Israel will restart the battle after the hostages are launched. Israeli officers have stated they’re frightened Hamas will draw out the talks and the preliminary cease-fire indefinitely, with out releasing all of the hostages.

Netanyahu is below stress from Israel’s closest ally – the US – to barter a ceasefire, however at house, two far-right wing members of his cupboard have threatened to convey down the governing coalition if he agrees to a truce.

Israel bombardment continues

The Hamas-run Inside Ministry stated 4 law enforcement officials had been killed in an Israeli airstrike Saturday in Rafah, the AP reported. The ministry, which oversees civilian police, stated the officers had been killed throughout foot patrol securing properties. It stated eight different law enforcement officials had been wounded. Israel’s navy didn’t instantly reply to questions.

In Deir al-Balah, prayers had been held for 12 Palestinians, together with 5 kids and two ladies, killed in three separate strikes in central Gaza on Friday and Saturday, in line with hospital officers. The our bodies had been taken to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, the place AP journalists counted them.

Two of these killed in a strike that hit the Mughazi refugee camp Friday had been staff with the United Nations company for Palestinian refugees, the group’s director of communications advised the AP. Juliette Touma stated a complete of 194 staff with the company have been killed since October.

Earlier this week, an Israeli evacuation order within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis and the encircling areas affected about 250,000 Palestinians. Many headed to an Israeli-declared “protected zone” centered on the Muwasi coastal space or Deir al-Balah.

Floor combating has raged in Gaza Metropolis’s Shijaiyah neighborhood for the previous two weeks, forcing tens of hundreds of individuals to flee their properties. Many have sheltered within the Yarmouk Sports activities Stadium, one of many strip’s largest soccer arenas.

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