Hamas says it is reviewing Israel’s ceasefire proposal for Gaza
Hamas said on Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a move that comes amid efforts to break the impasse in talks between the armed group and Israel.
The statement came as fears grew of an Israeli attack on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million people have been displaced. Humanitarian groups have warned that such an attack would have devastating consequences for civilians.
Khalil al-Haya, a senior Hamas official, said in a statement that the group had received an Israeli response to the proposal it submitted to Egyptian and Qatari mediators two weeks ago. Mr. al-Hayya did not provide any details of what the Israeli proposal included, but he said Hamas would respond after the group finished studying it.
On Friday, a delegation of Egyptian officials visited Israel in an effort to advance talks between Israel and Hamas, according to an Israeli official familiar with the trip, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were unable to communicate with the media. Were not authorized to do.
In recent weeks, talks aimed at achieving a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza have stalled amid disputes over Israel’s troop withdrawal and the duration of the pause in fighting. Hamas has called for a permanent ceasefire, while Israel has expressed openness to a temporary truce.
Another important issue is whether Israel will allow displaced Palestinians to return to the north. Hamas officials have said Palestinians should be able to return en masse, while Israeli officials have said Israel wants to place limits on who can return, where and how.
The standoff has left Palestinians in Gaza suffering from Israel’s devastating bombing campaign, which has caused destruction across the territory and killed more than 34,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry’s figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
It has also prevented Israeli hostages from being reunited with their families, many of whom have become critical of the Israeli government’s failure to secure the freedom of their loved ones.
Calls for ceasefire talks have gained urgency as Israel has indicated it may proceed with its offensive on Rafah. Earlier this week, an Israeli military official said that if Israel were to launch an offensive on Rafah, the Israeli-designated “humanitarian zone” along the coast would be expanded to take in more civilians. He spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
The comments were one of the first indications of the Israeli military’s plans for civilians if it were to launch a major ground offensive in the area.
Foreign Minister Antony J. Blinken is expected to visit Israel next week, a visit that comes as the United States has urged Israel not to launch a major military operation in Rafah.
Israeli officials have repeatedly said that entering Rafah was necessary to fight Hamas battalions, but Israel’s allies have expressed serious concerns about what the invasion would mean for the people crowding the city. Many of them are living in temporary tents in large camps. ,