Hamas submits unified Palestinian ceasefire response to mediators
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Hamas delivers a unified Palestinian response to Gaza ceasefire talks after consultations with factions as an Israeli delegation is expected in Doha for negotiations.
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In this Monday, March 23, 2015, file photo, Palestinian masked fighters of Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, a military wing of Hamas, take part in a parade to mark the 11th anniversary of the Israeli assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmad Yassin in Gaza, in the northern Gaza Strip (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas announced on Saturday that it has completed wide-ranging consultations with fellow Palestinian factions and submitted a joint response to mediators on the latest ceasefire framework aimed at halting the Israeli occupation’s war on the Gaza Strip.
In a statement issued by its National Relations Office, Hamas said it held “an extensive series of contacts” with leaders of national and Islamic factions to coordinate and agree on a single position regarding the proposal’s terms and the mechanisms for implementation.
The talks, described as “serious and practical,” produced what the movement called a “unified national consensus” backing the stance of the Palestinian resistance.
“All factions welcomed this unified reply,” the statement noted, adding that the response was forwarded to mediators “in a positive spirit and with full unanimity” after both internal and external consultations were finalized.
United front to end the genocide
Hamas stressed that the joint effort reflects “responsible Palestinian leadership” seeking to preserve the achievements of the Palestinian people and ensure a united front to end the genocide being waged against our people in Gaza.
An Israeli official told Israeli media on Saturday that an Israeli delegation will travel to Doha in the coming days “to complete the deal,” indicating that indirect negotiations are poised to resume in the Qatari capital.
The response follows the unveiling of what US President Donald Trump labeled a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire, an initiative reportedly rooted in the Witkoff Plan and coordinated with Qatar, Egypt, and the US administration.
According to Israeli reports, the deal includes phased Israeli military withdrawals, the release of captives and bodies, and a framework for extended negotiations toward a permanent agreement.
Another deal on the way?
While "Israel" has not pledged to end its war on Gaza, it has reportedly expressed conditional approval to resume dialogue beyond the initial truce period. Yet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained silent, even as pressure mounts from the international community over his government's ongoing destruction of Gaza's infrastructure and refusal to commit to a full ceasefire.
"We have handed the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, our response to the ceasefire proposal," a Hamas official told Reuters. "The Hamas response is positive and I think it should help and facilitate reaching a deal," added another official involved in the talks.
The proposed ceasefire would see a phased release of captives held by the resistance, beginning with 8 live captives on the first day and additional releases on days 50 and 60, alongside the return of 18 bodies. In exchange, "Israel" would begin withdrawing its forces from northern and southern Gaza under UN and Red Crescent oversight. Technical teams would work on boundary demarcations, while humanitarian aid would begin flowing immediately.
Longer-term arrangements, set to begin on day one of the truce, include defining terms for further prisoner exchanges, negotiating a permanent ceasefire, determining Gaza's future security framework, and establishing international guarantees. Mediators would ensure compliance and could extend the truce if substantial progress is made.
