GAZA: Palestinian resistance movement Hamas revealed that its “positive” response to a US ceasefire plan for the eight-month-old war in the Gaza Strip opened a “wide pathway” to reach an agreement.
The scenario is uncertain as neither the Hamas nor Israel publicly committed to a deal.
Hamas submitted its formal response to a proposal outlined by US President Joe Biden on May 31. Israel said the response was tantamount to a rejection while a Hamas official said the Palestinian group merely reiterated longstanding demands not met by the current plan.
Egypt and Qatar on the possible plan stated that they had received Hamas’ response but did not disclose the contents.
Early on Wednesday, Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, said in a statement the group’s answer was “responsible, serious and positive” and “opens up a wide pathway” for an accord.
While talking to media another Hamas official on condition of anonymity, said the response reaffirmed the movement’s stance that a ceasefire must lead to a permanent end to hostilities in Gaza, withdrawal of Israeli forces, reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave and release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
“We reiterated our previous stance. I believe there are no big gaps. The ball is now in the Israeli courtyard,” the official said.
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