Palestinian sources said Saturday that the Hamas terrorist organization is prepared to respond positively to a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. The sources spoke to the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya channel. However, Hamas officials told Qatari media earlier in the day that they had not yet received any concrete proposal for an agreement.
According to the sources, Hamas supports a permanent ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, positions its senior officials have already declared publicly. They added that Hamas had previously agreed to Egypt's framework for Gaza to be run by a committee of Palestinian experts and technocrats.
The Palestinian sources stressed, however, that Hamas "considers its weapons a national right linked to the occupation." They also noted that Hamas does not oppose a hudna, or temporary ceasefire, that could last for several years.
Meanwhile, a senior Israeli political official said Saturday evening that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains committed to the five conditions approved by the cabinet for ending the war. He is expected to present them to US President Donald Trump in their upcoming meeting.
In a 21-point document published over the weekend, Trump proposed the release of all hostages in stages in exchange for thousands of imprisoned terrorists, the disarmament of the Gaza Strip, the immediate end of the war, a pledge to prevent sovereignty, the preservation of security perimeters, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal in favor of Arab governance.
