Hamas has received Israel’s official response to its latest ceasefire proposal and is currently reviewing it before submitting a reply. Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’ deputy chief in Gaza, announced this in a statement.
The proposal was presented to Egyptian and Qatari mediators on April 13, and negotiations have been ongoing to end the conflict in Gaza, which has lasted over six months. However, the talks remain deadlocked, with Hamas insisting that any agreement must include an end to the war.
Recently, an Egyptian delegation visited Israel to discuss ways to restart talks and end the conflict. Israel has expressed willingness to consider a limited truce, which would involve the release of 33 hostages held by Hamas. However, Hamas has reiterated its demands, which Israel has rejected.
The United States and 17 other countries have urged Hamas to release all its hostages as a step towards ending the crisis. While Hamas has expressed openness to new ideas, it has maintained its key demands, including a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Despite the challenges, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has expressed optimism about the progress of the talks. However, the situation remains tense, with reports of an Israeli airstrike on a house in Rafah killing at least five people and wounding others.
The conflict began on October 7, when Hamas fighters attacked Israeli towns, killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages. Israel has vowed to defeat Hamas, and the conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with the Gaza health ministry reporting over 34,000 Palestinian fatalities.
