Core issues intact following Hamas remarks on Israeli doc. - Exclusive
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An exclusive source tells Al Mayadeen that the Palestinian group insists on the necessity of Israeli forces withdrawing from the Philadelphia Axis and the Rafah crossing.
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Protesters shout slogans as others wave Palestinian flags during a rally in support of the Palestinian people in Gaza, outside the US Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP)
Hamas' amendments to the latest Israeli paper regarding a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange deal do not affect the core issues, an exclusive source told Al Mayadeen on Thursday.
The source pointed out that the Palestinian group holds on to its positions regarding establishing a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and the return of the displaced.
Hamas insists on the necessity of Israeli forces withdrawing from the Philadelphia Axis and the Rafah crossing, the source added, affirming that the Resistance group insists on its position of rejecting a “veto” on the release of Palestinians with life sentences.
Elsewhere, the source told Al Mayadeen that the Palestinian Resistance movement exhibited flexibility in dealing with clauses 8 and 14 in a way that ensures the continuation of negotiations until a permanent ceasefire is reached.
On Wednesday evening, the Hamas movement revealed that its political bureau head, Ismail Haniyeh, held several phone calls with mediators in Egypt and Qatar over the past few hours, to discuss an agreement that would halt the Israeli aggression against Gaza.
In a statement, Hamas affirmed that it was dealing positively with the ongoing deliberations, noting that Haniyeh also contacted officials in Turkey regarding the latest developments.
The Mossad, "Israel's" spy agency, announced that mediators Qatar and Egypt have conveyed Hamas' updated response regarding the proposed deal to the Israeli negotiation team, Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reported, adding that "Israel" was currently examining the response and would provide its answer to the mediators soon.
Ravid cited a senior Israeli official who mentioned that the response from Hamas was constructive and could potentially pave the way for detailed negotiations on the remaining issues.
The official noted that although there has been important progress, significant challenges remain, noting that any detailed negotiations would be tough and lengthy, potentially taking several weeks to reach an agreement.
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