Hamas proposed no significant changes to Gaza ceasefire deal: Official
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The Hamas Resistance movement asked for slight, insignificant modifications to the proposed ceasefire deal in Gaza, according to one of its officials.
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Israeli soldiers take up positions during a ground operation in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip on January 10, 2024. (AP)
The changes Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas requested to the US-proposed ceasefire deal to end the war on Gaza are "not significant", a senior Hamas leader told Reuters on Thursday.
The official underlined that the main demand of the Resistance movement is the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, which they have been voicing since the start of the Israeli invasion of Gaza.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Hamas had suggested numerous amendments, some of which he described as "unworkable". Blinken affirmed that mediators remain committed to bridging the gaps between the invading Israeli forces and the Resistance groups.
One of the central demands from Hamas involves the release of Palestinian prisoners. The senior Hamas leader specified that Hamas seeks the release of 100 Palestinians serving long-term sentences in Israeli jails, which would be chosen by the Resistance.
Hamas objected to the Israeli proposal’s exclusion of these 100 prisoners and the restriction that only prisoners with no more than 15 years remaining on their sentences be released.
The senior Resistance official reiterated that these points of contention are the main adjustments requested by the group.
"There are no significant amendments that, according to Hamas leadership, warrant objection," the senior leader concluded.
Biden's ceasefire proposal
The ceasefire proposal, announced by Biden on May 31, outlines a new three-phase plan aimed at achieving "a lasting cessation of hostilities" in the Gaza Strip and the release of all captives held by Hamas.
But what exactly does the resolution entail?
Phase one
The initial phase calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, the release of captives including women, the elderly, and the wounded, the return of the remains of some deceased hostages, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza.
This phase also includes the safe and efficient distribution of humanitarian aid across Gaza, ensuring that all Palestinian civilians in need receive assistance, including housing units provided by the international community.
Phase two
The second phase stipulates a permanent cessation of hostilities, conditional upon the mutual agreement of the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian Resistance. It includes the release of all remaining captives in Gaza and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the blockaded Strip.
