Hamas Says It Is Reviewing an Israeli Proposal on a Stop-Fireplace Deal

Hamas stated on Saturday that it was reviewing a brand new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire within the Gaza Strip, a transfer that comes amid efforts to interrupt a impasse within the talks between the armed group and Israel.

The assertion got here as anticipation was rising of an Israeli invasion of Rafah, a metropolis in southern Gaza the place greater than one million folks have been displaced. Humanitarian teams have warned that such an offensive would have catastrophic penalties for civilians.

In a press release, Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, stated the group had obtained an Israeli response to a proposal it delivered to Egyptian and Qatari mediators two weeks in the past. Mr. al-Hayya didn’t present any particulars included within the Israeli proposal, however he stated Hamas would reply to it after the group completed learning it.

On Friday, a delegation of Egyptian officers visited Israel in an try to advance the negotiations between Israel and Hamas, in response to an Israeli official conversant in the go to, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to speak with the media.

In latest weeks, the negotiations aimed toward attaining a cease-fire and the discharge of hostages held in Gaza have stalled amid disputes about an Israeli withdrawal of forces and the size of a halt within the preventing. Hamas has demanded a everlasting cease-fire, whereas Israel has expressed openness to a brief pause.

One other key sticking level is whether or not Israel will permit displaced Palestinians to return to the north. Hamas officers have stated Palestinians ought to be capable of return en masse, whereas Israeli officers have stated Israel needs to place limits on who can return, the place and the way.