Hamas Rejects Key Aspects Of Gaza Ceasefire Plan Proposed By U.S., Israel Says

Hamas has responded to a United States ceasefire proposal for the ongoing war in Gaza, which Israel said amounted to a rejection. At the same time, Hamas claimed it iterated its long-standing demands.

Hamas demanded that a ceasefire must lead to a permanent end to hostilities, withdrawal of Israeli forces, reconstruction of Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Egypt and Qatar confirmed receiving Hamas’ response but did not disclose details. The U.S. claimed Israel accepted its proposal, though Israel has not confirmed this publicly and continues its operations in Gaza.

An Israeli official, who spoke anonymously to Reuters, said Hamas “changed all of the main and most meaningful parameters,” rejecting the proposal suggested by the U.S. President, Joe Biden. This came after a source indicated to Reuters that Hamas had suggested a new timeline for a permanent ceasefire and Israeli troop withdrawal, including from Rafah.

On Monday, the U.N. Security Council had supported the U.S. ceasefire proposal.

Following that, Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, on Tuesday, told Reuters that Hamas accepted the Security Council resolution and was ready to negotiate the details of a ceasefire. Hamas’s official response to the U.S. ceasefire proposal, however, did not reflect what the Hamas official earlier said on Tuesday.

For months, negotiators from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar have been working on a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Read More: Israel Visit: U.S. Secretary Urges Hamas To Accept Ceasefire Proposal

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