Hamas said on Saturday it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a move that comes amid efforts to break a deadlock in talks between the armed group and Israel.
The statement comes as expectations grow for Israel’s invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million people have been displaced. Humanitarian groups have warned that such an offensive would have catastrophic consequences for civilians.
Senior Hamas official Khalil Haya said in a statement that the group had received Israel’s response to a proposal it submitted to Egyptian and Qatari mediators two weeks ago. Mr Haya did not provide any details of the Israeli proposal but said Hamas would respond after the group’s study was completed.
A delegation of Egyptian officials visited Israel on Friday to try to advance negotiations between Israel and Hamas, according to an Israeli official briefed on the visit. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Negotiations to achieve a ceasefire and release Gaza hostages have stalled in recent weeks amid disputes over the timing of Israel’s withdrawal and ceasefire. Hamas has called for a permanent ceasefire, while Israel has said it is open to a temporary ceasefire.
Another key question is whether Israel will allow displaced Palestinians to return to the north. Hamas officials say Palestinians should be able to return en masse, while Israeli officials say Israel wants to limit who can return, where and how.
The standoff leaves Palestinians in Gaza continuing to suffer devastating Israeli bombardments that have devastated the entire territory and killed more than 34,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry’s data does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
It also prevents Israeli hostages from being reunited with their families, many of whom are increasingly unhappy with the Israeli government’s failure to ensure the freedom of their loved ones.
Calls for ceasefire talks have become more urgent as Israel signals it may go ahead with its invasion of Rafah. Earlier this week, an Israeli military official said Israel’s designated coastal “humanitarian zone” would be expanded to accommodate more civilians if Israel begins its invasion of Rafah. He spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.
The comments were among the first signs that the Israeli military plans to target civilians as it launches a massive ground offensive in the region.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to Israel next week, a visit that comes as the United States urges Israel not to take major military action in Rafah.
Israeli officials have repeatedly said the entry into Rafah is necessary to combat Hamas camps there, but Israel’s allies have expressed serious concerns about what an incursion would mean for the people pouring into the city, many of whom live in makeshift facilities in large camps. In the tent. .
