U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed that Hamas had proposed numerous changes, to the U.S.-backed proposal, noting that some of the terms are unrealistic, but that mediators were determined to close the gaps.
The U.S. has said Israel has accepted its proposal, but Israel has not publicly stated that, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel will not commit to ending its campaign before Hamas is eliminated.
Meanwhile, a senior leader in Hamas has said the changes that Hamas has requested to facilitate a ceasefire as proposed by the United States are not significant and include the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.
The senior Hamas leader said his organisation had demanded to choose a list of 100 Palestinians with long sentences to be released from Israeli jails, the reconstruction of Gaza; the lifting of the blockade, including opening border crossings; allowing the movement of people; and transporting goods without restrictions.
Negotiators from the U.S., Egypt and Qatar have tried for months to mediate a ceasefire in the conflict – which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and devastated the heavily populated enclave.
