Hamas senior official confirms approval of ceasefire proposal

CAIRO: Hamas has remained steadfast to its position towards a ceasefire proposal and stuck to its approval of it, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, Izzat El-Reshiq, said in a statement on Thursday.

Read more: Mid-level Israeli team heads to Cairo to assess Hamas position, Israeli official says

Reshiq’s comments came as Cairo hosted new ceasefire talks attended by delegations from Hamas, Israel, the United States and Qatar in an attempt to conclude a deal.

Earlier, Hamas conveyed its acceptance of a truce plan proposed by mediators to Qatar and Egypt, Al Jazeera reported. The plan outlined a three-stage ceasefire, each lasting 42 days. The conditions included Israeli withdrawal from the Necharim Corridor and the lifting of the Gaza assault.

Read more: Hamas reportedly accepts ceasefire plan proposed by mediators

However, Israeli officials cast doubt on the reported agreement, suggesting that the draft proposed by Hamas was unilaterally altered by Egypt and did not align with Israel’s proposals. Israeli authorities hinted at potential military actions against Rafah if ceasefire talks stalled.

More to follow…