Hamas accepts new ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar: Source
A source tells Al Jazeera Arabic that Hamas has accepted a new ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar, the two countries leading mediation efforts between the group and Israel.
A Hamas source told Al Jazeera: “We informed the mediators of our approval of their proposal, which was presented yesterday.”
The move came as Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo to discuss the push for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Ceasefire proposal includes 60-day truce, path for ending war: Source
An informed source tells Al Jazeera that Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by the mediators that includes a 60-day truce as well as a path towards a comprehensive resolution to permanently end the Israel-Palestine war.
During the 60 days, Hamas would free half of the Israeli captives remaining in Gaza in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian captives held by Israel.
The Israeli military would also allow the entry of humanitarian aid into the territory.
Ben-Gvir says Netanyahu ‘has no mandate to pursue’ Gaza deal
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has suggested he opposes efforts to reach even a temporary truce in Gaza.
“Netanyahu has no mandate to pursue a partial deal,” Ben-Gvir wrote in a social media post.
The far-right minister and his ally Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich could collapse Netanyahu’s government if they withdraw from the coalition.
‘We fight only to win’: Israel’s Smotrich rejects Gaza ceasefire again
Echoing far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has expressed opposition to any ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
“We fight only to win! Under no circumstances to stop in the middle with a partial deal that abandons half of the hostages and could lead to ending the war in defeat,” he wrote in a post on X.
“Hamas is under great pressure from the occupation of Gaza because it understands that this eliminates it and ends the story. Therefore, it is trying to stop it by returning to a partial deal. Precisely for this reason, we must not give in and grant the enemy a lifeline. Continue to the end, win, and bring back all the hostages in one fell swoop.”
Smotrich has been a vocal advocate for ethnically cleansing Gaza.
Israel’s war on Gaza at ‘turning point’, army chief says
Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir has addressed a conference near the borders of Gaza, saying that an “unprecedented” military campaign is ongoing.
“We are at a turning point in the war, preparing to move to the next phase of Operation Gideon’s Chariots, which focuses on deepening the impact against Hamas in Gaza City,” he said.
A day after Zamir approved the Gaza City invasion plans, he said the army had “decisively defeated Hamas in the areas where we operated” and must prepare to continue “operational developments” in Gaza.
“We will continue to act and create the conditions for the release of our abductees.”
