Abu Marzouk: No proposal received from US administration yet
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The head of Hamas's international relations office, Mousa Abu Marzouk, confirmed to Al Mayadeen that the movement had not received a document regarding what U.S. President Joe Biden proposed, noting that Hamas needs to review the proposal in full.
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Mousa Abu Marzouk, the head of Hamas's international relations office speaking to Al Mayaden on June 2, 2024. (Al Mayadeen)
Mousa Abu Marzouk, the head of Hamas's international relations office, confirmed to Al Mayadeen that the movement had not received any document regarding the proposal referenced by US President Joe Biden in his Friday speech.
Moreover, Abu Marzouk stated, on Saturday, that the US administration has yet even to receive a positive response from the Israeli occupation regarding Biden's proposal, "nonetheless they demand that we approve it."
He pointed out that what Biden announced are "principles that Hamas perceives as positive," but "we need to review them in full," emphasizing, "We will not accept any amendments to the old document concerning the ceasefire and the withdrawal from Gaza."
Abu Marzouk explained to Al Mayadeen that if Biden's proposal includes ending the war and withdrawing Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, then "the Resistance will stand by its people and accept the proposal."
Not the first round of negotiations
Regarding previous rounds of negotiations, Abu Marzouk said that the issue previously was not about the classification of stages, but about the number of non-military Israeli captives who would be released.
Additionally, he explained that another point of disagreement was regarding "the lasting of the ceasefire."
The head of Hamas's international relations office announced that if Biden's proposal addresses the points of disagreement, the Resistance will agree to the deal.
Biden's proposal was made due to success of Operation Al Aqsa Flood
On the matter of Operation Al Aqsa Flood and its achievements, Abu Marzouk emphasized that "without the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and the bravery of their Resistance, we would not have heard what President Biden said" regarding the proposal to stop the war on Gaza.
Abu Marzouk stressed that the fighters in Gaza won this battle in every military sense, particularly when they managed to thwart the objectives of the Israeli occupation. He noted that all Palestinians, wherever they are, share in the victory that was achieved.
On internal Palestinian issues, Abu Marzouk stated that "the future of Hamas is determined by its fighters, and we are steadfast on the ground. The movement manages Palestinian affairs in Gaza."
He added that the day after the war should be a Palestinian day, confirming, "We want a fully empowered government in the West Bank and Gaza Strip." He pointed out that the Palestinian government must be acceptable to everyone and work on reconstruction and building for the future.
Israeli far-right ministers threaten to quit if Biden plan goes ahead
In turn, far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened to resign Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration Saturday if he went ahead with a captive release plan brought forth by US President Joe Biden.
Biden laid out a new proposal that involves releasing Israeli captives in exchange for a ceasefire in Gaza. He claimed that this is the most effective step toward de-escalating the ongoing war, adding, "With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it."
"As someone who's had a lifelong commitment to Israel, as the only American president who has ever gone to Israel at a time of war, as someone who just sent the US forces to directly defend Israel when it was attacked by Iran, I ask you to take a step back, think what will happen if this moment is lost," he stressed.
"We can't lose this moment."
"It's time for this war to end and for the day after to begin," emphasized Biden, who is under the pressure of an election year and amid the ongoing Israeli aggression, which has persisted for eight months.
Ben Gvir stated that if the agreement was approved, his party would "dissolve the government" and denounced the idea as "a victory for terrorism and a security risk to the State of Israel".
"Agreeing to such a deal is not total victory -- but total defeat," he expressed, adding that he would "not be part of a government that will agree to the proposed outline."
"We demand the continuation of the war until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages return," he wrote on X, adding that he was against Gazans returning to the north of Gaza and against the "wholesale release of terrorists".
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid pledged to provide Netanyahu "our safety net for a hostage deal if Ben Gvir and Smotrich leave the government".
Without Ben Gvir and Smotrich's parties, Netanyahu's government may lose its parliamentary majority.
