Hamas says ready to 'immediately' begin indirect talks for Gaza truce
4 Min Read
Hamas affirms its readiness to engage in indirect negotiations to resolve the points of contention.
-
Thick smoke and flames erupt from an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP)
Hamas has welcomed the ongoing mediation efforts by Qatar and Egypt aimed at "ending the war waged by the Zionist occupation" against the Palestinian people.
The movement affirmed its readiness to immediately engage in a round of indirect negotiations to resolve the points of contention.
The Palestinian group also emphasized its commitment to reaching an agreement that would provide urgent humanitarian relief, end the suffering of civilians in Gaza, and secure a permanent ceasefire.
Read more: Senior Hamas official clarifies position on US ceasefire proposal
Qatar, Egypt push for 60-day Gaza truce
Hamas's statement came after Qatar and Egypt announced on Sunday that they would step up mediation efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
In a joint statement, the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to advancing negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing war.
“Qatar and Egypt, in coordination with the United States of America, affirm their intention to intensify efforts to overcome the obstacles facing the negotiations,” the statement read.
It added that both countries aim to swiftly achieve a 60-day temporary truce that would open the path toward a permanent ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
The proposed deal would include the release of 10 living captives held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Hamas previously noted that while it responded positively, it submitted amendments to the proposal.
Read more: Al Mayadeen obtains Hamas, other factions' response to US proposal
US envoy calls Hamas response 'unacceptable'
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff criticized Hamas’ reply, calling it “totally unacceptable” and claiming it sets the process backward.
“Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week,” Witkoff posted on X.
He emphasized that only through this path could a 60-day ceasefire be reached “in the coming days.”
Netanyahu vows to retrieve all captives
Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to return all captives from Gaza, “living and dead."
"Israel" reneged on the two-month truce in March after limited exchanges of captives and prisoners and resumed its large-scale military operations across the Gaza Strip.
Humanitarian crisis deepens as Gaza toll rises
As the negotiations stall and Israeli airstrikes continue, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply. Aid is only slowly beginning to enter the Strip after months of blockade-induced shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 4,149 people have been killed since March 18, when "Israel" resumed its war. This brings the total death toll since the war began to 54,418.
Hamas agreed to ceasefire proposal with remarks consistent with US negotiations
In a related context, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi told Al Mayadeen on Sunday that the movement's response to the latest ceasefire proposal was a clear "yes", contrary to claims made by US envoy Steve Witkoff, who said Hamas had rejected it.
"Our answer was not 'no,' as Witkoff claimed—it was a 'yes'," Mardawi said.
He emphasized that Hamas had agreed to the proposal but submitted remarks that were consistent with the negotiations conducted with the American side.
Read more: Senior Hamas official reveals details of latest proposal: Exclusive
Core issue revolves around guarantees
The core issue, he said, revolves around guarantees. "All of our remarks addressed essential matters, so why is the American side now treating our response as a step backward?" he asked.
Mardawi pointed out that "Israel's" strategy is to forcibly displace Palestinians through starvation, noting that the US is fully aware of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intentions in this regard.
The Hamas official highlighted that past experience shows it is the Palestinian Resistance that abides by agreements, while "Israel" does not.
"The Americans can serve as guarantors if they truly want to," he added.
US only actor capable of compelling 'Israel' to comply
He criticized Washington’s bias, noting that despite Palestinians’ legitimate right to resist, they are left vulnerable due to the weak positions of Arab and Islamic states.
Nonetheless, the Palestinian official maintained that while the US is clearly partial, it remains the only actor capable of compelling "Israel" to comply.
"We can resolve everything in a single session of indirect negotiations," he concluded.
