Hamas submits response to ceasefire proposal

Two Palestinian sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations confirmed Wednesday that Hamas has submitted its official response to mediators regarding the proposed ceasefire in Gaza. The response includes key amendments, most notably a demand for guarantees of a permanent ceasefire with 'Israel'.

One of the sources told AFP that Hamas and other resistance factions delivered their reply to the mediators, which includes “amendments aimed at achieving a lasting ceasefire.”

According to the source, Hamas’s response primarily addresses the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, maps outlining the withdrawal of 'Israeli' forces, and guarantees for a complete end to the war.

A second Palestinian official familiar with the talks described Hamas’s response as “positive,” affirming the contents shared by the first source. The group also reportedly requested changes to the proposed withdrawal maps, insisting that 'Israeli' forces retreat from residential areas and Salah al-Din Road - a vital north-south artery - while allowing troops to remain no deeper than 800 meters within Gaza’s eastern and northern borders.

Additionally, Hamas called for an increase in the number of Palestinian prisoners with life or long-term sentences to be released in exchange for each living 'Israeli' soldier.

The official noted that negotiations will continue until a final agreement is reached.

For the third consecutive week, indirect talks between Hamas and 'Israel' are ongoing in Doha, with Qatari, US, and Egyptian mediation. The current proposal under discussion includes a 60-day truce during which captives held in Gaza would be released in stages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

Hamas has consistently insisted that any agreement must include guarantees for a permanent end to the war - a demand that Tel Aviv has so far rejected, maintaining that a full ceasefire is contingent on the dismantling of Hamas’s military infrastructure.