Hamas “gives positive response” to Qatar truce draft
Since Israel’s brutal war on Gaza which began on October 7, Hamas have shown positive signs, giving an initial approval to a truce plan, AFP reported on February 1.
The move is seen as a step in the right direction as there is a good chance that a lengthy ceasefire and a release of hostages on both sides will occur.
A week-long cessation of hostilities happened in November and there were hopes of a further truce deal which were quickly dashed after Israeli intelligence agency Mossad stormed out of the negotiating table.
Qatar, the deal’s mediator, confirmed on the evening of February 1 that Hamas was more or less on board with a truce deal.
The Gulf state’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari said, “That proposal has been approved by the Israeli side and now we have an initial positive confirmation from the Hamas’ side,”, adding, “We’re hopeful that in the next couple of weeks, we’ll be able to share good news about that (the truce deal),”
READ: Israel and Hamas “making progress” on 30-day truce deal
On January 28, deal negotiators from Egypt, Qatar and the US were in Paris for talks in which they proposed a six-week long pause in the fighting as well as ensuring that all hostages were returned home.
It is believed that there are currently around 8,000 Palestinian prisoners, almost all wrongfully detained, languishing in Israeli jails as well as just over 100 Israeli hostages in Gaza. Hamas abducted 250 people during their assault on southern Israel, which they named “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”, on October 7.
A lot has also been made about allowing aid into Gaza given that convoys are often met with scrutiny by Israel who have long deprived residents of food, water and medicine supplies which constitutes a breach of international law and was recently highlighted during the ICJ ruling on Israel’s genocide case.
The UN top court did not call for a cease in the fighting but showed deep concern at the ongoing Israeli massacre in the under-siege enclave (27,400 deaths as of February 2), calling on the state to limit civilian deaths and to do more to hold to account those spouting genocidal rhetoric.
With regards to fresh truce negotiations, a Hamas source said that only women, children and sick men over the age of 60 would be up for release in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and that a rebuilding of Gaza would be addressed during the deal negotiations.
AFP/ The Guardian
