Hamas accepts U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal – Israel immediately REJECTS IT

05/08/2024 / By Kevin Hughes

Hamas has agreed to the terms of a United States-brokered ceasefire proposal that would see Israel halt its destructive seven-month campaign in Gaza for several weeks and Hamas release all Israeli captives in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Rather than immediately implementing the proposal, Israel claimed it has to review it more.

In a statement, Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh informed Qatar and Egypt – the two other mediators of the ceasefire proposal – of its acceptance of the plan.

Hamas said in a statement that “Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas movement’s political bureau, had a phone call with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani and with the Egyptian Minister of Intelligence Abbas Kamel, and informed them of the Hamas movement’s approval of their proposal regarding the ceasefire agreement.”

Meanwhile, Israel has declared that no ceasefire has been agreed to even though earlier reports claimed that Israel was waiting for word from Hamas on whether the movement accepted the ceasefire proposal.

An Israeli official said that the proposal accepted by Hamas was a “softened” form of an Egyptian proposal that included “far-reaching” conclusions Israel cannot accept.

“This would appear to be a ruse intended to make Israel look like the side refusing a deal,” the Israeli official said.

The report that Hamas agreed to a ceasefire arrives shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated plans for a ground military operation in Rafah regardless of a ceasefire agreement. (Related: Netanyahu: Israel WILL INVADE Rafah with or without ceasefire and agreement to release hostages)

Israel and Hamas have not agreed to a ceasefire since last November

Israel and Hamas have not agreed to a ceasefire since a weeklong pause that happened last November.

In reaction to the Hamas statement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said on X that the proposal was “far from meeting Israel’s core demands” but that Israel would “dispatch a ranking delegation to Egypt in an effort to maximize the possibility of reaching an agreement on terms acceptable to Israel.”

U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller confirmed the Hamas reply was being considered and studied with “partners in the region.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a statement posted on X, said he welcomed Hamas’ acceptance of the ceasefire proposal and asked Western nations to pressure Israel to accept the terms.

“During the call, in which I expressed that we found Hamas’ decision based on Turkey’s suggestions positive, we also emphasized that Israel should take steps for a permanent ceasefire. I call on all parties, especially Western countries, to put the necessary pressure on Israel for a ceasefire,” Erdogan said.

Ceasefire mediators have not publicly elaborated on the full contents of the proposal, but the main points of the agreement include a six-week pause in fighting, during which Hamas would release most, if not all, of the Israeli captives it has held since Oct. 7.

In return, Israel is expected to release hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned or illegally held in detention, withdraw its troops from certain regions of the Gaza Strip and permit Palestinians to travel from southern to northern Gaza.

Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya stated that the first phase of the ceasefire asked for a total withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Netzarim corridor and the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes.

In the second phase, there would be a direct statement of a permanent stoppage of military operations before the remaining Israeli captives are traded for more Palestinian prisoners. During the last phase, a full lifting of the blockade of the Gaza Strip would be made.

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Watch this news clip from Hindustan Times reporting on Hamas’ acceptance of the ceasefire proposal.

This video is from the CreeperStatus channel on Brighteon.com.