War in Gaza: Hamas agrees with ceasefire proposal

According to information from the news agencies AFP, dpa and Reuters, Hamas approved the recent proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The Islamist Palestinian organization had confirmed to the intermediaries that they and other groups “approved the new ceasefire offer without changes,” said Hamas circles on Monday. A few hours earlier, Hamas negotiators had received a ceasefire proposal according to Palestinian information, which therefore provides for a 60-day ceasefire and the release of hostages in two phases.

The indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas – in which the United States, Egypt and Qatar convey – had stalled again at the end of July. According to Israeli and American representation, Hamas had brought negotiations with excessive demands to derail. The delegations of the United States and Israel were then recalled in their respective capitals. Since then there has been no progress.

On the negotiating table, a proposal by the US specialist Steve Witkoff was last for a 60-day ceasefire. As Israeli media reported, the latest proposal for the Egyptian and Qatarian mediators is an updated form. According to this, ten living hostages and the corpses of 18 kidnapped people in return for Palestinian prisoners are to be released during the 60 days.

Israel’s security cabinet decided to expand the Gaza War a week ago. The plan provides for the intake of the city of Gaza and central refugee camp for the destruction of Hamas. Media speculated that the announcement could be a negotiation tactic to put Hamas under massive pressure, to return to the negotiating table and to show itself more flexibly. Since then, efforts by the international intermediaries have been in the background for a new ceasefire in the almost two-year Gaza war.

Note: This article has been updated