Hamas expected to respond positively to US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal – Firstpost

Hamas is expected to respond positive to the US-backed proposal aimed at ending the war with Israel in the Gaza Strip.

The
United States has conveyed a proposal to Israel and Hamas. President Donald Trump has said that Israel has already
accepted the proposal.

After Hamas on Friday said it was considering the US proposal passed on by Qatar, The Jerusalem Post reported that a positive reply was expected later in the day.

A source familiar with the talks told The Post that Hamas’ response will be positive with revisions to some terms in the proposal but that those revisions would not be deal-breakers.

Trump on Thursday had said that he would know Hamas’ response to the proposal within 24 hours. The proposal, which has been floated by US Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, is seeks a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.

These developments have been reported at a time when widespread Palestinian casualties have taken place in Israel in recent weeks. While casualties have been reported in continuing Israeli bombardment of the enclave, casualties have also been reported in firing on Palestinians gathering to receive aid. Palestinians have blamed Israeli military for these attacks at aid sites.

What’s inside US-backed Israel-Gaza ceasefire proposal?

The US-backed ceasefire proposal would lead to a ceasefire in Gaza for 60 days, according to The Post.

In these 60 days, talks for the permanent end of the war would take place.

In exchange of the ceasefire, Hamas would release 10 living hostages and 18 dead hostages.

On its part, Israel would release 125 Palestinian prisoners and 1,111 Gazans that Israel had arrested after the October 7 attack.

Previously, the newspaper had reported that one of the options being discussed was
the exile of Hamas leaders from Gaza after the implementation of the ceasefire. In earlier round of negotiations, Hamas had rejected such a proposal.