Hamas Has Not Responded To Latest Ceasefire Proposal: Qatar

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari revealed on Thursday that Hamas has yet to deliver its response to the latest ceasefire proposal to mediators. According to Al-Ansari, Hamas is currently in the process of studying the proposal. He also mentioned that Qatari, Egyptian, and U.S. mediators are actively involved in ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire agreement.

Prior to this, two Egyptian security sources had disclosed that talks aimed at achieving a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza conflict were ongoing but had not yielded any significant progress.

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These discussions were initiated on Wednesday following a meeting in Doha, where CIA Director William Burns, alongside Qatari and Egyptian officials, discussed a ceasefire proposal that was publicly endorsed by U.S. President Joe Biden. Biden described this proposal, which encompasses three phases, as originating from Israel.

However, in a development that potentially undermines the ceasefire proposal advocated by Biden, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh stated on Wednesday that any ceasefire plan must incorporate a permanent resolution to the conflict and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire have encountered challenges since a brief truce in November. Hamas has consistently pressed for a permanent end to the conflict, while Israel has expressed willingness to consider only temporary pauses until Hamas is effectively neutralized.

The conflict initially erupted when Hamas launched an attack on Israel in October, resulting in casualties and the capture of hostages, according to Israeli reports. The situation remains complex and fluid, with ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict and achieving lasting peace in the region.