Ceasefire & Co.

Hamas: are fundamentally in favor of the US peace plan

(Bild: APA/AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

The radical Islamic Hamas contradicts Israeli statements that it has fundamental reservations about the peace plan in Gaza advocated by US President Joe Biden.

"Hamas and the (Palestinian) groups are ready for a comprehensive agreement that includes a ceasefire, withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction of what has been destroyed and a comprehensive exchange of prisoners," Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (pictured above) said in a televised speech.

He was referring to key demands made by the USA. Israel had stated that Hamas objected to the US proposal. On Wednesday in Doha, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had described Hamas' proposed changes as partly unrealistic.

Washington seeks ceasefire
The US government has been trying for months to reach an agreement on a ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas. The ambitious draft deal presented by Biden at the end of May initially provides for a complete and unrestricted ceasefire of six weeks. During this period, a certain group of hostages would be released.

In return, Palestinians imprisoned in Israel would be released. In the next phase, the fighting would then cease permanently and the remaining hostages would be released. According to the draft, the final phase would see the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip begin.

However, several of Netanyahu's right-wing coalition partners vehemently opposed this. Hamas also responded to the draft last week with a counter-proposal.