Hamas meets Egyptian and Qatari mediators, says it is ready to implement an “immediate” ceasefire based on previous US proposal without new conditions.
Photos of hostages held in GazaDavid Cohen/Flash 90
The Hamas terrorist organization said on Wednesday evening that its negotiators reiterated the group’s readiness to implement an “immediate” ceasefire with Israel in Gaza based on a previous US proposal without new conditions from any party, Reuters reported.
In a statement, the group said that its negotiation team, led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, met mediators on Wednesday, including Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in Doha.
A source with knowledge of the issue told Barak Ravid of Axios that the Qatari and Egyptian mediators felt after the meeting with Hamas in Doha that it might be possible to present a new US-Qatari-Egyptian bridging proposal to the parties next week.
The United States has been pushing an outline for a ceasefire and hostage release deal that President Joe Biden first laid out in May, but Hamas has continuously rejected every proposal that has been presented to it.
The Washington Post reported last week that the US has been engaging with Egypt and Qatar to outline a final “take it or leave it” deal.
However, the same newspaper reported on Saturday that US officials have announced that they have “indefinitely postponed” the presentation of the final deal.
According to the Post, the latest obstacle is Hamas’ “abrupt introduction” of its demand that Israel release high-profile terrorists even in exchange for humanitarian prisoners.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday downplayed pessimism over the prospects of a hostage release deal, saying that the US will present a new proposal for a deal “very soon”.
Speaking during a press conference in London with United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Blinken was asked whether the talks on a ceasefire and hostage deal are at a deadlock. He was also asked whether he could give any assurances to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the Philadelphi Corridor and that Israel’s security will be preserved even if Israeli forces are not present there.
“Right now, we’re working intensely with our Egyptian and Qatari counterparts to work together to bridge any remaining gaps. And in the coming time, very soon, we’ll put that before the parties and we’ll see what they say,” he added.
Magen David Adom said its paramedics were providing medical care to an individual in his 20s who was in critical condition.
Magen David Adom (MDA) said its paramedics were providing medical care to an individual in his 20s who had been hit by a gas tanker and was in critical condition.
MDA further stated the gas tanker had collided forcefully into a bus station.
The terrorist was apprehended, the military said, adding that troops were setting up roadblocks in the area.
This is a developing story.
