Hamas paves the way for a possible ceasefire

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza (AP) — Hamas has given preliminary approval to a U.S.-backed proposal for a gradual ceasefire in Gaza, dropping a key demand that Israel commit in advance to a complete end to the the wara Hamas and an Egyptian official said on Saturday.

The apparent compromise by the militant group – which controlled Gaza before triggering the war with an attack on Israel on October 7 – could help bring about the first pause in fighting since November and set the stage for further talks on ending the devastating nine months of fighting. But all sides warned that a deal was still not guaranteed.

The two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations, said Washington’s phased agreement would initially include a “complete and comprehensive” six-week ceasefire that would see the release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. During the 42 days, Israeli forces would withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza and allow the displaced to return to their homes in northern Gaza, the officials said.

During that time, Hamas, Israel and mediators would negotiate the terms of the second phase, which could include the release of the remaining male hostages, both civilians and soldiers, the officials said. In return, Israel would release more Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The third phase would return all remaining hostages, including the bodies of dead prisoners, and launch a years-long reconstruction project.

Hamas still wants “written guarantees” from the mediators that Israel will continue negotiations on a permanent ceasefire once the first phase comes into force, the officials said.

The Hamas official told the Associated Press that the group gave its consent after receiving “verbal commitments and guarantees” from mediators that the war would not resume and that negotiations would continue until a permanent ceasefire was reached.

“Now we want these guarantees on paper,” he said.

Months of on-again, off-again ceasefire talks have foundered over Hamas’s demand that any agreement must include a full end to the war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered to pause the fighting but not end it until Israel achieves its goals of destroying Hamas’ military and governmental capabilities and releasing all hostages held by the militant group.

Hamas has expressed concern that Israel could resume the war after the hostages are released. Israeli officials have said they are worried that Hamas will delay talks and the initial ceasefire indefinitely without releasing all the hostages.

Netanyahu’s office did not respond to requests for comment, and there was no immediate comment from Washington either. On Friday, the Israeli prime minister confirmed that the head of the Mossad intelligence agency had paid a lightning visit to Qatar, a key mediator, but his office said there remained a “rift between the parties.”

Israel began the war in Gaza after the Hamas attack in October, in which militants entered southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people – most of them civilians – and abducting about 250. According to Israel, Hamas is still holding about 120 hostages – about a third of whom are now presumed dead.

Since then, Israel’s air and ground offensive in Gaza has killed more than 38,000 people, according to the Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its count. The offensive has caused widespread devastation and a humanitarian crisis that has pushed hundreds of thousands of people to the brink of starvation, international officials said.

In line with previous proposals, the agreement would result in around 600 trucks of humanitarian aid being delivered to Gaza every day – including 50 tankers – half of which would be destined for the hard-hit north of the enclave, the two officials said. Aid deliveries to Gaza have been reduced to a minimum following the Israeli attack on the southernmost city of Rafah.

The Israeli airstrike on Gaza continued.

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said four police officers were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah on Saturday. The ministry, which oversees the civilian police, said the officers were killed while on foot patrols to secure properties. Eight other police officers were injured. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to questions.

Prayers were held in Deir al-Balah for 12 Palestinians, including five children and two women, killed in three separate attacks in central Gaza on Friday and Saturday, hospital officials said. The bodies were taken to al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital, where AP journalists counted them.

Two of the people killed in an attack on the Mughazi refugee camp on Friday were UN agency staff for Palestinian refugees, the organization’s communications director told AP. Juliette Touma said a total of 194 agency employees have been killed since October.

Earlier this week Israeli evacuation order In the southern city of Khan Younis and the surrounding areas, around 250,000 Palestinians were affected. Many went to an Israeli-declared “safety zone” around the coastal region of Muwasi or Deir al-Balah.

Over the past two weeks, ground fighting has raged in the Shijaiyah district of Gaza City, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. Many have fled to the Yarmouk Sports Stadiumone of the largest soccer arenas on the Strip.

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Magdy reported from Cairo, Egypt.

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For more AP reports, see https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war