Hamas, PIJ express ‘readiness to positively’ reach deal to end Gaza war

Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) announced on Tuesday evening that they had delivered a response to the Israeli proposal to a hostage deal during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Qatar, KAN reported on Tuesday.Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri, who is based outside Gaza, said it accepted the ceasefire resolution and was ready to negotiate over the specifics.The terror organizations expressed “readiness to positively” reach a deal to end the war in Gaza in a joint statement on Tuesday. They added that they submitted their response to the proposed Gaza ceasefire deal to Qatari and Egyptian mediators.In a message distributed to Hamas’s media outlets, the terror organization stated, “The answer gives priority to the interest of the Palestinian people and pushes for a full cessation of the ongoing aggression in the Gaza Strip.” Delegates react to the voting results during the United Nations General Assembly vote on a draft resolution that would recognize the Palestinians as qualified to become a full U.N. member, in New York City, U.S. May 10, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo)They also announced that they “demonstrated readiness to conduct itself positively in order to reach an agreement that would end the war against our people out of a sense of national responsibility,” KAN noted in their report. Ynet reported on Tuesday that Hamas’s amendments to the proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza include “a new timetable for a permanent cessation of hostilities and a complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Strip, including Rafah.” Ynet quoted an official familiar with the ongoing negotiations.  Reactions to Hamas and PIJ’s statementsHamas had previously accepted the UN resolution backing a plan to end the war with Israel in Gaza and is ready to negotiate details, a senior official of the Palestinian terrorist group said on Tuesday in what the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called a hopeful sign.The United States has received and is evaluating Palestinian group Hamas’ formal reply to a UN-backed Gaza truce proposal sent to Qatari and Egyptian mediators, White House spokesperson John Kirby said on Tuesday.Kirby, in a virtual briefing with reporters, said it was helpful to have a response from Hamas and that US officials were working their way through it.The Egyptian ministry said Doha and Cairo, along with the US, will continue their mediation efforts until a deal is reached, adding that they will study the response and coordinate the next steps with concerned parties.Reuters contributed to this report.