CAIRO/GAZA/OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his security cabinet on Thursday evening to discuss new Hamas positions on a ceasefire deal in Gaza, a source in Netanyahu’s office said, as fighting in the enclave raged.
Before the cabinet meets, Netanyahu will have consultations with his ceasefire negotiations team, the source also said. Israel received Hamas’ response on Wednesday to a proposal made public at the end of May by US President Joe Biden that would include the release of about 120 hostages held in Gaza and a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.
Two Hamas officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Hamas has said any deal must end the nearly nine-month Israeli aggression and bring a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel maintains it will accept only temporary pauses in the fighting until Hamas is eradicated.
The plan entails the gradual release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza and the pullback of Israeli forces over the first two phases, as well as the freeing of Palestinian prisoners.
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The third phase involves the reconstruction of the war-shattered territory and the return of the remains of deceased hostages.
Palestinians cautiously hopeful
In Gaza, Palestinians reacted cautiously. “We hope that this is the end of the war, we are exhausted and we can’t stand more setbacks and disappointments,” said Youssef, a father of two, now displaced in Khan Younis, in the south of the enclave.
“Every more hour into this war, more people die, and more houses get destroyed, so enough is enough. I say this to my leaders, to Israel and the world,” he told Reuters via a chat app.
Tanks shelled several areas on the eastern side of Khan Younis on Thursday after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders on Tuesday, but there has been no movement by the tanks into those areas, residents said.
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