Sources in Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organisations told the Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday that in recent days they had received a message stating that their negotiating delegation was "ready to resume talks as they were."
However, the sources said Hamas is waiting for an official written response from Israel to its most recent demands from several weeks ago. According to Palestinian sources, Israel's latest position was conveyed orally via mediators, not in writing.
The sources said efforts are under way to arrange a meeting between the Hamas delegation and mediators in the next two days. Mediators are reportedly trying to establish a new framework to resume negotiations, but the process hinges on Israel's reply.
In addition, the sources claimed that Hamas "cannot accept dictates from Israel and the US, and that all issues must be resolved through dialogue, not by imposing conditions."
Hamas' demands regarding the latest US proposal for a hostage deal included scrapping the role of the American aid distribution mechanism in Gaza and reverting fully to the old UN and international aid agency model.
Hamas has also demanded the release of Nukhba unit terrorists, according to senior Hamas official in exile Ghazi Hamad, and a broader IDF withdrawal from the Gaza Strip during the proposed 60-day phase. As a result the Israeli delegation left Qatar, and the negotiations have effectively collapsed for now.
Regarding a comprehensive agreement, in exchange for the terrorist group's pledge to free all hostages, Hamas is demanding a complete IDF withdrawal from Gaza, a permanent and comprehensive cease-fire with international guarantees, and what it calls a "dignified deal", meaning a mass release of terrorists.
On Saturday, senior Hamas official in exile Osama Hamdan reiterated the group's public stance that it will not give up its weapons in Gaza as Israel demands in the framework of a full agreement. Hamas says that if a Palestinian state with "full sovereignty" is established, the terrorist factions would be integrated into the security apparatus, although this remains doubtful given the rift with Fatah, the main faction in the Palestinian Authority.
However, according to Asharq Al-Awsat, Hamas officials abroad have conveyed to mediators that they are willing to forgo "offensive weapons."
