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Hamas Agrees to Ceasefire, Drops Demand for New Terms

Published

3 months ago

Sep 12, 2024.

Palestinian Hamas group has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing an immediate ceasefire with Israel in Gaza, based on a previous US proposal, without any new conditions from either party.

This statement comes after a meeting between Hamas negotiators, led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, and mediators, including Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, in Doha.

Despite ongoing talks, a lasting agreement has yet to be reached, with the control of the Philadelphi corridor, a strategic area on Gaza’s border with Egypt, remaining a contentious issue.

CIA Director William Burns, the chief US negotiator on Gaza, has indicated that a more detailed ceasefire proposal will be presented in the coming days.

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The previous proposal, put forward by US President Joe Biden in June, outlined a three-phase ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages.

The current conflict in Gaza began on October 7, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, resulting in significant loss of life and the taking of hostages.

The subsequent Israeli offensive has had a devastating impact on Gaza, with reports indicating that at least 41,084 Palestinians have been killed and 95,029 wounded.

Hamas’s reiteration of its readiness for an immediate ceasefire without new conditions offers a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

However, the lingering issues and the need for a more detailed proposal highlight the complexity and challenges that lie ahead in achieving a lasting agreement.

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