Smoke and flames rise after an Israeli strike on a residential building amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the central Gaza Strip. | Photo credit: Reuters
Palestinian group Hamas said on Sunday that a new proposal to bridge the gap between Israel and the Islamist armed group on a Gaza ceasefire is very close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent stance.
This statement of Hamas came just hours after the statement of the US Foreign Minister. Anthony Blinken arrives in Israel in effort to ensure ceasefire in Gaza And with the hostage release agreement not being signed, hopes of an early breakthrough in the talks have dimmed.
Hamas received a new proposal from mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States after two days of talks in Doha.
It said the new proposal aligns with Netanyahu, who remains firm in his refusal to end the war and withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza, including along the Egyptian border, two conditions the group sees as the basis for any agreement.
Hamas said, “We hold Netanyahu fully responsible for thwarting the mediators’ efforts, for delaying the agreement, and for the lives of his prisoners, who are at the same risk as our people due to his continued aggression and systematic targeting of all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip.”
“We urge the mediators to shoulder their responsibilities and force the occupiers to act in accordance with the agreements,” Hamas said, adding that it remained fully committed to last July’s resolution.