Hamas to Present Response to Ceasefire Proposal in Gaza in Coming Days

The Palestinian Hamas movement is prepared to present its response to the ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip in the coming days. This was reported by the Egyptian television channel 'Al-Qahira al-Ihbaria'. According to a senior source within the Egyptian government, 'Hamas will present an answer regarding the ceasefire proposal in the coming days.'

The source indicated that 'intensive communications have recently been established to resume indirect negotiations for settlement in the region.' They further added that Cairo has received 'positive signals from Hamas regarding the desire for a ceasefire movement in the Palestinian enclave.' According to them, the leadership of the radical movement is 'seriously and positively studying the proposals.'

On May 31, US President Joe Biden announced the terms of a new draft for a peace settlement, consisting of three phases. The first phase is designed for six weeks and includes a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza, and the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Additionally, during this timeframe, the parties must begin negotiations, and the ceasefire regime will remain in effect until mutual understanding is achieved. The second phase involves the release of all hostages, including military personnel. The third phase is the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and the transfer of the remains of deceased Israelis to their relatives.

On the same day, Hamas declared a positive assessment of Biden's proposed initiative, clarifying that the movement agrees to consider proposals for the settlement of Gaza if the Israeli side declares its commitment to the same grounds for negotiations. However, on June 4, a member of the movement's political bureau, Osama Hamdan, stated that the conditions for possible dialogue outlined by the US President indicate that Israel intends to keep its forces in the region and is 'interested in a ceasefire only long enough to retrieve its captives, after which it will resume aggression against the Palestinian people,' Hamdan noted.