Israel has communicated its commitment to the latest ceasefire and hostage release proposal to Hamas through mediators Qatar and Egypt. This move follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's clarification of his previous comments, where he initially seemed to dismiss the proposal but later affirmed Israel's support for it.
Netanyahu's statement at the Knesset was seen as a crucial correction, signaling Israel's willingness to engage in negotiations with Hamas. The Israeli government even shared a video segment of Netanyahu reiterating the country's commitment to the deal with the mediators, urging them to convey the message to Hamas.
In an interview, Netanyahu expressed readiness to reach a 'partial deal' with Hamas to secure the release of some hostages held in Gaza. This stance diverged from the broader proposal put forth by US President Joe Biden, which aims for the eventual release of all remaining hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and Israeli forces' withdrawal.
However, Hamas responded by stating that Netanyahu's comments indicated a preference for a partial agreement rather than a comprehensive resolution to the conflict in Gaza. The group reiterated its demand for any deal to include a clear commitment to a permanent ceasefire and a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
