Hamas said on Monday it was ready to reach a ceasefire deal with Israel, but insisted that any initiative must lead to a complete end to the war in Gaza.
The reaction came just hours after US President Donald Trump announced that Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire and urged Hamas to accept the offer, AP reports.
Trump said the ceasefire could be the beginning of a path to ending the conflict, although Israel will not agree to an end to the war until Hamas is completely defeated. Under the US proposal, the 60 days would see a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, with diplomatic assurances that talks on a more permanent solution would be held.
Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the group was “ready and serious about a deal,” but only if it led to a complete end to the war. A Hamas delegation will meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Tuesday.
The main point of disagreement remains: Hamas is demanding an end to the war and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel insists on Hamas’ surrender and disarmament.
Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, and Iran is expected to be a topic of discussion, given the escalation of the regional conflict that the AP is already describing as a war between Israel and Iran.
