Hamas, PIJ Deliver Response on Gaza Ceasefire Proposal to Mediators

The Hamas movement has presented a few remarks to the mediators regarding the proposal laid out by the United States for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told our reporters on Tuesday.

Hamdan clarified that the proposal discusses a ceasefire in Gaza but does not specify that it is permanent, whereas the US President had spoken about a permanent ceasefire. “We have amended this,” he said.

He pointed out that the amendments were made based on inter-Palestinian dialogue, involving both the leadership of the Resistance inside and outside Gaza.

Based on this dialogue, Hamdan revealed that three key points were agreed upon. First, the Resistance is capable of continuing [its operations], and the achievements of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood confirm that resistance is the only legitimate option for the Palestinian people.

Second, Hamdan emphasized the need to achieve a ceasefire and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people, stressing that “the Resistance cannot compromise on the rights of its people under any circumstances.”

Third, he pointed out that the Resistance’s positivity should not be misinterpreted as a sign of weakness or a willingness to make further concessions.

“Our response is our commitment to what we previously committed to, a ceasefire and [complete] withdrawal from Gaza,” Hamdan told our reporters.

He made it clear that the Hamas leadership does not succumb to pressure but maintains positivity.

Regarding the US stance on the war on Gaza, the Palestinian official considered that the American-Israeli position is aligned, noting that the disagreement between the two sides “is only tactical.”

Touching on the US-drafted UN Security Council ceasefire resolution passed on Tuesday, Hamdan indicated that the text includes loopholes, stressing that the main thing is to set a zero hour for a ceasefire.

He added that the Hamas movement welcomes the resolution because it includes a ceasefire, relief for Palestinians, and prisoner exchange negotiations.

Talking about the Israeli operation in Nuseirat, in central Gaza, in which 274 Palestinians were killed and hundreds of others were injured, the Hamas official pointed out that the occupation, which tried to fabricate an image of victory in Nuseirat, was exposed and had three of its captives killed.

Hamdan revealed that Hamas’ information confirms the participation of members from the US Delta Force in the Nuseirat operation.

He added that the true colors of Israeli racism were exposed when the occupation forces killed and injured a thousand Palestinians in Nuseirat.

Hamdan affirmed that the Israeli failure in the war is evident, describing the talk about “the day after” as a “delusion” created by the Israeli occupation. For the Resistance, “the day after” in Gaza is distinctly limited to the Palestinians, he underlined.

He recalled that the estimates given to the United States indicated that the war would last six weeks, but it has been ongoing for eight months. The Palestinian official stressed that the Israeli occupation cannot be trusted, explaining that it only yields when it feels incapable of “achieving victory”.

Regarding the situation in the occupied West Bank, which witnesses daily Israeli raids and arrests in parallel with the aggression on Gaza, Hamdan considered that the ongoing Israeli assassinations there confirm one truth: what frightens the occupation is the Resistance.

Egypt and Qatar receive Palestinian factions’ response

In a related context, a joint delegation from Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), led by Hamas Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh and PIJ Secretary-General Ziad al-Nakhalah, announced it delivered the Palestinian Resistance factions’ response regarding the ceasefire proposal to the Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

Egypt and Qatar, on their end, announced that they have received a response from Hamas and the Palestinian factions regarding the US proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal, stating that they would study the response and coordinate with the concerned parties regarding the next steps.

The two movements indicated that the response prioritizes the interests of the Palestinian people and the necessity of completely halting the ongoing aggression on Gaza, adding they were ready “to engage positively to reach an agreement that ends this war.”

They maintained that joint mediation efforts with Washington will continue until an agreement is reached.

A source with knowledge of the talks told AFP that Hamas proposed amendments to the plan, including a ceasefire timeline and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.