By ABBY SEWELL, Related Press
ISTANBUL (AP) — A Hamas official mentioned Thursday that worldwide mediators have resumed negotiating with the group and Israel over a ceasefire in Gaza, and that he was hopeful a deal to finish the 14-month struggle was inside attain.
Ceasefire negotiations have been halted final month when Qatar suspended talks with mediators from Egypt and the USA due to frustration over an absence of progress between Israel and Hamas. However there was a “reactivation” of efforts in current days to finish the combating, launch hostages from Gaza and free Palestinian prisoners in Israel, in accordance with Bassem Naim, an official in Hamas’ political bureau who spoke with The Related Press in Turkey.
One other official conversant in the talks confirmed the return of Qatari mediators. The official spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to debate the negotiations with the media.
For the reason that talks broke down, there have been vital shifts within the international and regional panorama. Donald Trump gained the U.S. presidential election, and a ceasefire was declared final week between Israel and Hamas ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Trump is a staunch supporter of Israel, however Naim mentioned he believes the incoming administration may “affect the situation positively” on condition that Trump had made halting wars within the area a part of his marketing campaign platform. Trump this week referred to as for the discharge of all hostages held in Gaza by the point he takes workplace on Jan. 20, saying there could be “hell to pay” if that doesn’t occur.
Earlier rounds of negotiations targeted on variations of a proposal calling for a multiphased ceasefire — starting with a preliminary six-week halt in combating throughout which feminine, aged and sick hostages could be freed in alternate for Palestinian prisoners.
Throughout that point, Israel would pull again some forces, and displaced Palestinians could be allowed to return house. The edges would additionally start talks on the subsequent section that would come with the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, the discharge of remaining hostages and the phrases of a everlasting finish to the struggle. A 3rd, last section would concentrate on reconstruction.
Naim mentioned that no “solid, well-formed” new ceasefire proposal has but been introduced to Hamas. And despite the fact that ceasefire talks have damaged down on a number of events all through the struggle, he added: “I think it is not a big challenge to reach a deal … if there are intentions on the other side.”
Hamas-led combatants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, and taking round 250 individuals hostage. Israel’s blistering retaliatory offensive has killed at the very least 44,500 Palestinians, greater than half of them girls and youngsters, in accordance with Gaza’s Well being Ministry, whose rely doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Hamas has been designated as a terrorist group by the USA, Canada and the European Union.
Within the negotiations to finish the battle, the 2 sides have been at odds on some main factors, together with whether or not any halt within the combating could be everlasting or momentary and whether or not Israeli forces would withdraw from all the enclave, and on what timetable. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mentioned Israel will keep a long-term army presence within the territory and vowed to dismantle Hamas’ army capabilities and be certain that the group by no means governs once more.
Trump’s Center East envoy Steve Witkoff met individually in current weeks with Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to debate Gaza ceasefire talks, in accordance with a U.S. official who spoke anonymously as a result of they weren’t licensed to remark publicly.
Naim mentioned Hamas is sticking to the core calls for it has held to throughout earlier rounds of negotiations, together with a everlasting ceasefire, complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and the correct of internally displaced Palestinians in Gaza to return to their properties. However he additionally mentioned the Palestinian group is “ready to show flexibility” on implementation, together with on the timeline for withdrawal of Israeli forces from key components of Gaza.
A earlier spherical of talks in August reached an deadlock partially as a result of Israel demanded that it after any ceasefire it ought to keep a army presence within the Philadelphi hall, a strategic strip alongside the enclave’s border with Egypt, and within the Netzarim corrider that cuts from east to west throughout the territory’s midsection.
“There can be a discussion about these points, but at the end, Israel has to withdraw totally from the Philadelphi corridor, and the Rafah border (with Egypt) has to be opened immediately,” Naim mentioned.
Naim mentioned Palestinian factions have been additionally making progress in deciding who would rule Gaza politically after the struggle. He confirmed that Hamas and its rival Fatah — which dominates the Western-backed Palestinian Authority — have reached an settlement in precept on forming a brief committee of Palestinian technocrats that might govern Gaza within the instant aftermath of the struggle. Below this association, Hamas would quit its political rule of the enclave, however not lay down its arms.
“Originally we are a Palestinian national liberation movement. We are not a movement to govern,” he mentioned. “When it comes to the military wing … as long as we are people under occupation, we have all the right to resist this occupation by all means, including armed resistance.
Israel says it will never let Hamas rule Gaza again, and is demanding the group disarm.
Hamas political official Khalil al-Hayya had previously told AP that if an independent Palestinian state were established along 1967 borders, the group would lay down its arms. Naim said that remains the group’s position.
“Resistance, including armed resistance, is a tool,” he mentioned. “It is not a goal in itself.”
Related Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem, and Aamer Madhani in Washington, contributed to this report.
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