Hamas leader says group accepts Gaza truce proposal

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh informed Qatari and Egyptian mediators on Monday that his Palestinian militant group had accepted their proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza after nearly seven months of war.

Haniyeh had spoken by phone with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian Information Minister Abbas Kamel, “and informed them of Hamas’ approval of their proposal regarding a ceasefire agreement,” the group said. in a statement published in its official official. Website.

A senior Hamas official, however, stressed that “this does not mean that the ceasefire has yet come into force”, noting that “the Israeli side has not yet communicated its position”.

“The ball is now in the court of the Israeli occupation, whether it will agree to the ceasefire agreement or block it,” another senior official said. AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations.

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However, an Israeli official said the proposal accepted by Hamas was a “softened” version of an Egyptian proposal, which included “long-term” conclusions that Israel could not accept.

“This appears to be a ploy intended to make Israel look like the side that is refusing a deal,” said the Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Hamas’s announcement came after Israel on Monday called on Palestinians to leave eastern Rafah ahead of a ground invasion of southern Gaza City, amid growing global alarm over the consequences of such a move.

In Rafah, where citizens had expressed fear and confusion over the evacuation order, crowds cheered and fired shots into the air in the streets after Hamas’ announcement. AFP the correspondent reported.

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People wept tears of happiness, shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is Greatest) and fired shots in the air in celebration of the news, the correspondent said.

Despite months of shuttle diplomacy, mediators have failed to broker a new truce like the week-long ceasefire that freed 105 hostages last November, including Israelis in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.

Previous negotiation efforts had stalled in part because of Hamas’ demand for a permanent ceasefire and Netanyahu’s vows to crush its remaining fighters in Rafah.

The bloodiest war in Gaza began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,170 people, according to AFP account of Israel’s official figures.

Israel estimates that 128 of the hostages kidnapped by the militants on October 7 remain in Gaza, including 35 that the military says are dead.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel launched a retaliatory attack that killed at least 34,735 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.