Top Hamas official says group accepted mediators’ proposal on Gaza
Khalil al-Hayya says Hamas has “dealt positively” and “accepted” a proposal by Egypt and Qatar to stop the fighting in the territory.
He did not reveal the details of the initiative, but several Israeli media outlets reported that it would involve the release of five Israeli captives in exchange for resuming and prolonging the truce.
More from Hamas’s al-Hayya
The Hamas official says the group has accepted an Egyptian plan for forming an independent body of experts to oversee civil administration in Gaza. But while he suggested that Hamas is willing to give up – or at least share – its governing powers in the territory, he said the group will not disarm.
He added that Hamas and other armed resistance groups will not relinquish their responsibilities and allow Israel to dictate Palestinians’ future.
“We would never accept dishonour and insults for our people, so no deportations and no displacement,” al-Hayya said. “As for the resistance’s arms, they are a red line, linked to the presence of the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.”
Israel has no plans to end the war
We are hearing from the Israeli media that there might be some movement on the proposal put forward by the mediators for a ceasefire. The Egyptians were working on a formula in which Hamas would release five Israeli captives in exchange for 50 days of calm.
The Israeli prime minister’s office responded by saying that they had put forward their own counteroffer in coordination with the US administration. They want 10 captives out, in addition to bodies of some of the captives killed during the war.
And they are not committing to ending the war.
