Hamas response to Gaza ceasefire proposal ‘consistent’ with principles of US plan
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Hamas' top leader Ismail Haniyeh says a deal will have to include a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal and a prisoners swop.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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CAIRO – Hamas’ response to the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal is consistent with the principles put forward in US President Joe Biden’s plan, the group’s Qatar-based leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a televised speech on the occasion of the Islamic Eid al-Adha on June 16.
“Hamas and the (Palestinian) groups are ready for a comprehensive deal, which entails a ceasefire, withdrawal from the strip, the reconstruction of what was destroyed and a comprehensive swop deal,” Mr Haniyeh said, referring to the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
On May 31, Mr Biden laid out what he called a “three-phase” Israeli proposal
Egypt and Qatar, which along with the United States have been mediating between Hamas and Israel, said on June 11 that they received a response from the Palestinian groups to the US plan, without giving further details.
While Israel said Hamas rejected key elements of the US plan, a senior Hamas leader told Reuters that the changes the group requested were “not significant”. REUTERS
