Gaza war: US evaluating Hamas response to ceasefire proposal
Gaza war: US evaluating Hamas response to ceasefire proposal
Hamas stressed the need for the war to end, which an Israeli official said amounted to a rejection.
A brief statement confirmed Hamas had given an official response to the latest ceasefire plan, which has garnered broad international support and was endorsed by the UN Security Council on Monday. This reiterated a demand for what Hamas called “a complete halt of the ongoing aggression against Gaza”, and full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territory.
A Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq, said the response was “responsible, serious and positive” and that it opened up “a wide pathway” to reach an agreement.
The Israeli prime minister’s office did not release an on-record reply.
But a statement was issued by an anonymous Israeli official, who said that Hamas had “changed all of the main and most meaningful parameters” and “rejected the proposal for a hostage release that was presented by President Biden”.
The more critical reaction is now awaited from mediators - particularly, the US - once they have studied the proposal and judged the extent of the Hamas amendments.
“We're in receipt of this reply that Hamas delivered to Qatar and Egypt and we are evaluating it right now,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday, without elaborating.
Qatar and Egypt said in a joint statement that they would study Hamas’s response and “co-ordinate with the parties concerned regarding the next steps”. They also pledged to continue their mediation efforts with the US “until an agreement is reached”.