Media sources reported on Wednesday that Hamas has presented new ideas to mediators aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip, which has been witnessing an ongoing conflict for nearly nine months between Israel and the Palestinian movement.
In response, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed in an official statement that Israel is currently evaluating Hamas’s “comments” regarding an agreement aimed at liberating the hostages held in Gaza, and that it will respond to the mediators later.
This development comes amid increasing international pressure on both parties to reach a ceasefire, especially with the rising death toll and deteriorating living conditions for Palestinians in Gaza day by day.
Hamas stated that it “exchanged some ideas with the mediating brothers with the aim of ending the aggression against the Palestinian people.” Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden recently referred to a proposed agreement, which he described as Israeli, involving a ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
For its part, Hamas insists that any agreement must include a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
It’s worth noting that the war in Gaza erupted following a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of 1,400 people, mostly military personnel, according to official Israeli data. Additionally, 251 people were taken hostage, of whom 116 are still held in Gaza, including 42 who have died, according to the Israeli army.
In response, Israel launched an offensive on Gaza that has so far resulted in 37,925 deaths, mostly civilians, according to data from the Ministry of Health in the Hamas-run Gaza government.
All eyes remain on the results of these negotiations and diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire and end the humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip.