Hamas is unlikely to reject a Gaza ceasefire proposal it received from mediating countries this week. The group has said it will only sign off under the condition Israel agrees to end the war.
Palestinians take control of an Israeli Merkava battle tank after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. One month after Israel was wracked by Hamas attacks, life has been upended for both the Palestinians and Israel after it launched a war of reprisal in the Gaza Strip.
Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries introduced the first concrete proposition to Hamas, outlining an extended halt to fighting in Gaza. The proposal, forged in discussions with Israel and the United States during talks in Paris last week, is under examination by Hamas, which is in the process of formulating a response.
A Palestinian official close to the talks said the Paris text envisions a first phase lasting 40 days, during which fighting would cease with Hamas freeing the remaining civilians from among more than 100 hostages it is still holding. Further phases would see the release of Israeli soldiers and the handover of the bodies of dead hostages.
"I expect that Hamas will not reject the paper, but it might not give a decisive agreement either," said the Palestinian official.
"Instead, I expect them to send a positive response, and reaffirm their demands: for the agreement to be signed, it must ensure Israel will commit to ending the war in Gaza and pull out from the enclave completely.
"The extended pause would be the first since Oct. 7, when Hamas fighters attacked Israel, provoking an Israeli offensive that has laid assault on most of Gaza. Health officials in the enclave said Thursday that the confirmed death toll had risen above 27,000, with thousands more dead still lying under the rubble.
How Does Israel Feel?
According to an article in The Guardian last week, Israel is said to be struggling with accepting the terms Hamas has put forth, but Qatar, the U.S., and Egypt are hoping to see if the two sides can be persuaded to accept a ceasefire to last at least a month.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is potentially willing to implement a drawback in troops from Gaza during a ceasefire. Netanyahu's fear of leaving Hamas military forces intact and capable of mounting a further threat to Israel is a vulnerable point. Netanyahu is prepared to accept a lengthy ceasefire, but under the condition, there is no requirement to end hostilities.
However, Hamas continues to press that they will only sign the proposal under the condition Israel agrees to end the war.
