According to reports in Arab media on Monday morning, Hamas was handed a ceasefire proposal from both Egypt and Qatar during a gathering that included other Palestinian factions. Those present pressed Hamas to deliver its reply within just a few hours.
The mediators are expected to hold additional discussions later in the day in El Alamein, Egypt, where they will convene with Qatar’s prime minister, the report noted.
On Sunday night, the office of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu made clear that Israel’s stance remains firm: the country will only agree to a broad arrangement that results in the simultaneous release of every Israeli hostage.
This declaration followed new claims suggesting that Hamas might be willing to show some leeway on a staged ceasefire and hostage deal.
“The Prime Minister’s Office clarifies that Israel will agree to a deal on condition that all the hostages are released in one go, and in accordance with our conditions for ending the war, which include the disarming of Hamas, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, Israeli control of the Gaza perimeter, and the installation of non-Hamas and non-Palestinian Authority governance that will live in peace with Israel,” the statement read.
{Matzav.com}
