A senior Hamas leader announced on Thursday that Hamas finds the adjusted ceasefire proposal put forth by the United States acceptable, signalling progress in negotiations aimed at ending the current conflict.
The revisions to the U.S.-backed proposal include a crucial demand for the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, a longstanding point of contention for Hamas.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged on Wednesday that Hamas had proposed several modifications to the ceasefire plan, although some were deemed impractical. He stressed the commitment of mediators to reconcile the differences between the parties.
One of Hamas’s central demands involves the selection of 100 Palestinians serving long-term sentences in Israeli prisons for release. The senior Hamas leader underscored Hamas’s objection to the exclusion of these prisoners from the Israeli proposal. Additionally, Hamas opposes the restriction limiting release to prisoners with less than 15 years remaining on their sentences.
“There are no significant amendments that, according to Hamas leadership, warrant objection,” the senior Hamas leader stated.
Efforts to finalize the terms of the ceasefire continue amidst ongoing negotiations, with mediators striving to address concerns from both sides involved in the conflict.
