Hamas demands written commitment that Israel will withdraw from Gaza
Hamas has demanded a “clear written commitment” that Israel will withdraw from the Gaza Strip during the second of a three-phase cease-fire deal, a senior Egyptian official and a Hamas official said Sunday, AP reported.
The resistance group said Saturday it submitted its response to a six-week cease-fire proposal to Egyptian and Qatari mediators. It said it’s still committed to its demands for a permanent cease-fire, Israeli army withdrawal from all parts of Gaza, the return of displaced people to their homes, intensifying the flow of aid and the start of reconstruction.
Israel said earlier Sunday that Hamas had rejected the latest proposal for a deal submitted last week.
“We confirm our readiness to reach a deal regarding a serious exchange of prisoners between the two sides,” Hamas said.
The proposal presented to both sides calls for a six-week cease-fire in Gaza, during which Hamas would release 40 of the more than 100 captives the resistance group is holding in the territory in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.