Hamas responds to mediators proposal, insists on full ceasefire

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Hamas Media Office + Agencies
6 Feb 2024 21:23
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Hamas delivers its response to the Paris Document, which includes clauses that ensure a ceasefire among other demands.

Al-Qassam Brigades fighters hand over two Israeli settlers held captive in the Gaza Strip to workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as part of a mediated prisoner exchange deal between the Palestinian Resistance and "Israel", in Gaza, Palestine, on November 27, 2023. (Al-Qassam Brigades/Military media)

The Islamic Resistance Movement - Hamas announced that it handed its response to the Paris Document to mediators on Tuesday evening.

"A short while ago, the Hamas movement delivered its response to the framework agreement to the brothers in Qatar and Egypt," a statement said.

In further detail, the statement explained that the response aims to achieve "a comprehensive and full ceasefire," a clause that was not included in the original proposal.

The submitted response maintained the necessity of "a comprehensive and complete ceasefire, ending the aggression against [the Palestinian people], securing relief, shelter, reconstruction (projects), lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip, and completing the process of a prisoner exchange [deal]."

Moreover, the movement said it handed its response to both Qatari and Egyptian officials who are mediating indirect negotiations between the Palestinian Resistance and "Israel".

Response positive, yet stern

Hamas said that it did so following discussions on leadership levels within the movement and with other Palestinian Resistance factions. The statement added that the movement dealt "positively" with the initial proposal made in the Paris Document, which came as a result of a meeting of top intelligence officials from Egypt, Qatar, the United States, and France in Paris earlier in late January.

Just prior to the announcement, sources from the Palestinian Resistance told Al Mayadeen that the Resistance had accepted the framework of the Paris Document, yet coupled with fundamental conditions.

Mossad studying Hamas response

The Israeli Prime Minister's office said Tuesday that the country's Mossad spy agency is examining the response of the Palestinian Resistance to a proposed deal to halt fighting in Gaza.

"Hamas's reply has been conveyed by the Qatari mediator to the Mossad. Its details are being thoroughly evaluated by the officials involved in the negotiations," said a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

Qatar PM delivers response to Blinken

In parallel, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammad bin Abdul-Rahman Al Thani confirmed that Hamas' response to the framework agreement "makes Qatar optimistic," adding that the response was "positive", indicating that the details of the framework agreement cannot be revealed at this sensitive time.

Al Thani spoke to members of the media alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently touring the Middle East.

On his part, Blinken said he would bring the response to Israeli officials on Wednesday, saying that it is "essential" to move ahead.

"There's still a lot of work to be done. But we continue to believe that an agreement is possible and indeed essential, and we will continue to work relentlessly to achieve it," Blinken told reporters in Doha on Tuesday after being informed of the reply by Qatar.