Hamas has signalled its intention “to engage positively” in the efforts to end the war and emphasised the need for a “complete stop” to Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza.
The comments come after a senior Hamas official said the group accepted the ceasefire plan approved by the UN Security Council on Monday, which the US called a “hopeful sign.”
Even though the US says Israel has accepted the deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not made any public statement. Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has already voiced opposition to any deal, labelling it “collective suicide.”
When CNN asked if Israel unequivocally backed the UN resolution, the country’s UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan, said: “It depends on the interpretation because there are three phases.”
Hamas submitted its response to Qatar and Egypt, which, along with the US, are mediating negotiations between the two parties.
“The response prioritises the interests of the Palestinian people and emphasises the need for a complete halt to the ongoing aggression in Gaza,” Hamas and Islamic Jihad said in a joint statement.
They said they were ready to “engage positively to reach an agreement that puts an end to this war”.
According to Reuters, Hamas’s response includes amendments around a new timeline for a permanent ceasefire.
Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly said it would not end its attacks on Gaza before Hamas is eliminated.
The White House spokesperson, John Kirby, confirmed that the US is assessing Hamas’ formal reply and mentioned that it was helpful to receive a response.
Israel a “pariah state”
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has warned that the credibility of international law hangs in the balance if Israel refuses to comply with the UN-backed resolution.
During a press conference held in Jordan, Safadi called Israel a “pariah state” and emphasised that as the “occupying power,” it has the “biggest responsibility for ending the war.”
Over the weekend, Israel continued its onslaught, with hundreds of people, including babies and children, killed during its assault to rescue four hostages.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, 274 Palestinians were killed, which included 64 children and 57 women. Hundreds more were injured during the attacks. Hamas also claimed that some of the hostages had been killed during Israel’s attacks.
The high Palestinian death toll underlined the devastating human cost of such operations, exacerbating the already immense suffering from the eight-month conflict.
While the release of the hostage was welcomed, many criticised the media and Western leaders for devaluing the lives of Palestinians by failing to acknowledge the heavy Palestinian casualties in the operation.
