The Guardian / November 15, 2024
A senior Hamas official has said the Palestinian militant group is “ready for a ceasefire” in Gaza and urged US president-elect Donald Trump to “pressure” Israel to “end the aggression”.
“Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a ceasefire proposal is presented and on the condition that it is respected” by Israel, Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim told Agence France-Presse (AFP). “We call on the US administration and Trump to pressure the Israeli government to end the aggression,” he said.
Naim added:
Hamas informed the mediators that it is in favour of any proposal submitted to it that would lead to a definitive ceasefire and military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, allowing the return of displaced people, a serious deal for a prisoner exchange, the entry of humanitarian aid and reconstruction.
The latest round of talks in mid-October failed to produce a deal, with Hamas rejecting a short-term ceasefire proposal, according to Reuters. Israel has previously rejected some proposals for longer truces. Disagreements have centred on the long-term future of Hamas and Israel’s presence in Gaza.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s newly reinforced position now Trump has won the US presidency could lead to further intensification of Israel’s wars in both Gaza and Lebanon – although Trump has said he wants to swiftly end both conflicts.
