Hamas responded positively to a new proposal for a cease-fire with Israel to Gaza submitted by Egyptian mediators and Qatari, a official of the Palestinian Islamist movement said on Monday.
“Hamas gave its response to mediators, and confirmed that the movement and factions (Palestinian) accepted the new cease-fire proposal without requesting changes,” he said on condition of anonymity.
According to a Palestinian official, the proposal submitted on Monday in Cairo in Hamas provides an initial truce of 60 days and the liberation in two stages of the hostages.
No Israeli comment
The efforts of the mediators-Egypt, Qatar and the United States-had so far failed to lead to a lasting ceasefire in the war which has ravaged the Gaza Strip for 22 months, where 19 Palestinians were killed on Monday in Israeli strikes and fire.
In the afternoon, no Israeli officials had yet commented on the discussions in progress in Egypt.
This diplomatic revival comes at a time when the Israeli army is preparing to conquer the city of Gaza and the neighboring refugee camps hitting its control hitherto, under a new Israeli plan adopted with the objective of ending Hamas and releases all hostages.
AFP/LAN