The Palestinian militant group Hamas has softened its stance on accepting a ceasefire in the ongoing nine-month-old Gaza conflict, offering new proposals to mediators in Egypt and Qatar. Hamas has abandoned its demand for a written Israeli commitment to a permanent ceasefire at the end of an initial 45-day phase, agreeing instead to accept international guarantees on the ceasefire or a “sustained calm”, commencing at the start of the first phase and concluding before its end. The group has also shifted its position on Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, now willing to accept a gradual pullout, dropping its previous demand for a complete withdrawal by the end of the first phase.
While Hamas insists on the release of all Palestinian prisoners it seeks to exchange for hostages in Israeli custody, it is now willing to consider releasing them in three phases as part of the proposed plan. The group’s decision to release the hostages hinges on the progress of talks for a permanent ceasefire and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has been in contact with Egyptian and Qatari mediators to discuss these proposals. Discussions have also taken place with Hamas leaders in Turkey, with the group approaching the ongoing deliberations in a positive manner.
Meanwhile, Israel, in a cabinet meeting on Thursday, decided to send a delegation led by Mossad chief David Barnea to Qatar for talks, a day after Hamas submitted its latest amendments to the proposed deal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to achieving all of Israel’s war goals, stating that the war will end only after achieving those objectives. Netanyahu updated US President Joe Biden about the decision to send negotiators to the talks, reaffirming his commitment to Israel’s war goals. Biden welcomed the decision, encouraging the negotiators to engage with US, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators in an effort to finalize a deal. Barnea is expected to meet Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Friday to discuss the updated hostage-ceasefire deal proposal submitted by Hamas.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, a social media post urging Hamas to accept any agreement to halt the fighting has gained widespread attention among Palestinians in Gaza. The post, referencing the tens of thousands of grieving Gazans, implores Hamas to end “the suffering, humiliation, and oppression endured over the past nine months.” It appeals to Hamas leadership to “preserve what remains of the nation’s dignity,” expressing the exhaustion and humiliation of Gazans.
Umm Mohammed Mousa, a resident of northern Gaza, fully supports the message in the viral post. She describes life as unbearable and emphasizes the urgent need for an immediate end to the war, stating that the people can no longer endure it.
The Gaza conflict erupted last October after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in around 1,200 deaths and the capture of 240 hostages. Israel responded with a sustained military campaign, leading to the deaths of over 38,000 Palestinians to date, with twice as many wounded and 80 per cent of the territory’s 2.3 million residents displaced. The war has devastated much of Gaza’s urban areas, triggering a humanitarian crisis. Many residents in this densely populated strip now face hunger, with the specter of famine looming particularly in the north.
Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza have gained momentum amid growing domestic criticism of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s handling of the situation. Thousands of Israelis have been rallying weekly in Tel Aviv and other cities, urging for a resolution. Hamas, in control of Gaza since 2007, is also facing mounting pressure domestically to agree to a ceasefire.
