Egypt and Qatar, acting as mediators, received a response from Hamas and Palestinian factions regarding a ceasefire proposal for Gaza put forth by the United States. The Egyptian and Qatari governments confirmed this on Tuesday.
While the exact contents of the response were not disclosed, a Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, mentioned that Hamas suggested a revised timeline for a lasting ceasefire with Israel and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, including Rafah. However, the official did not elaborate further on the response. Egypt stated that they, along with Qatar and the US, will continue their mediation efforts until an agreement is reached.
They intend to review the response and coordinate further steps with relevant parties. This announcement followed a joint statement by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, expressing willingness to engage constructively to end the conflict in Gaza.
The groups confirmed that they had submitted their response to Qatari and Egyptian mediators. Earlier, the United Nations Security Council endorsed a proposal by US President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Biden’s plan outlined a phased approach, including negotiations for a permanent ceasefire and a potential prisoner exchange.
