‘Will only support a permanent end to war’: Hamas rejects short-term Gaza ceasefire offer

Hamas has refused to accept Israel’s short-term ceasefire proposal in Gaza, saying that it has always been insistent on a permanent truce.

A senior leader of the Iran-backed terror group, Taher al-Nunu, told AFP, “The idea of a temporary pause in the war, only to resume aggression later, is something we have already expressed our position on. Hamas supports a permanent end to the war, not a temporary one.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent trip to Qatar bore fruit after the country, which is the key mediator between Israel and Hamas, agreed to resume ceasefire talks. Sources told AFP that Mediators seeking to broker a Gaza ceasefire are expected to propose a truce of “less than a month” to Hamas.

What does the proposal involve?

Discussions held in Doha between Mossad chief David Barnea, CIA Director Bill Burns, and Qatar’s prime minister concluded on Monday. According to a source who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, they explored the possibility of a “short-term” truce lasting “less than a month.”

The proposal, if accepted, would see the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

“US officials believe that if a short-term deal can be reached, it could lead to a more permanent agreement,” the source said.

Nunu said the group had not received any proposal so far, adding if it gets such a plan, it would respond.

However, he reiterated the demands the group has been insisting on for months – “a permanent ceasefire, withdrawal (of Israeli forces) from Gaza, the return of displaced people, sufficient humanitarian aid to Gaza and a serious prisoner exchange deal”.

Source » firstpost.com