Liam Conner
Hamas says it approves a ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar, according to a statement on a Palestinian news website.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh spoke by telephone with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel “and informed them of Hamas’ approval of their proposal regarding a ceasefire agreement,” the group said in a statement published in Shehab News Monday.
But Israeli authorities, according to Reuters, they say that Hamas approved a proposal that had been “softened” by Egypt and that Israel would not accept. Israel has not formally commented on the proposal accepted by Hamas, and details about any potential release of hostages, Palestinian prisoners or the length of a ceasefire have not been released.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the U.S. had just received a copy of what he said was Hamas’ “response,” but did not further characterize it.
“I can confirm that Hamas has issued a response,” Miller told reporters on Monday. “We are reviewing that response now and discussing it with our partners in the region. … We continue to believe that a hostage agreement is in the best interests of the Israeli people. It is in the best interests of the Palestinian people. It would bring a cease- immediate fire.”
It’s unclear whether Hamas responded to a U.S.-approved proposal Asked which proposal Hamas accepted, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House: “I’m not going to get into that.”
Kirby said President Biden has been briefed on Hamas’ response.
CIA Director William Burns traveled to Cairo to participate in the talks last week and is now in Doha, Qatar, as negotiations Continue.
Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for about 30 minutes and “updated the prime minister on efforts to secure a hostage agreement,” the White House said. But Kirby said the call ended before reports of Hamas’ response emerged.
Hamas was labeled a terrorist group by the US and Israel long before Hamas launched a surprise attack on October 7thkilling more than 1,100 and taking more than 250 hostages.
Israel’s military warned about 100,000 Palestinians in the eastern part of the Gaza city of Rafah to evacuate on Monday ahead of a ground offensive long threatened by Israeli leaders. The message was delivered through leaflets, phone calls, messages and media broadcasts in Arabic, following a weekend that brought hope for a new ceasefire within seven months. Israel-Hamas War frustrated once again.
Tucker Reals and Camilla Schick contributed to this report.
