by Cho Seulkina
Published 12 Jun.2024 05:35(KST)
Updated 12 Jun.2024 05:36(KST)
The Palestinian armed faction Hamas has officially stated that it is prepared to positively agree to the so-called three-stage ceasefire plan led by the United States. However, it reiterated that the ceasefire must be premised on conditions such as the end of the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, which Israel has opposed, leading to analyses that the ceasefire agreement may not be easily achieved.
According to Sky News, Hamas and the Palestinian armed group Islamic Jihad issued a joint statement on the 11th (local time) announcing, "We are prepared to positively engage in negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement for the Gaza Strip." They emphasized, "Our response prioritized the interests of the Palestinian people," and "the agreement must be based on the complete cessation of attacks on the residents of the Gaza Strip."
A Hamas official explained, "Hamas's response reaffirmed the position that it must be premised on the cessation of Zionist (Israeli) attacks on Palestinian civilians, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, reconstruction projects in the Gaza Strip, and a serious prisoner exchange."
However, the conditions for ending the war and withdrawing troops demanded by Hamas have been parts that Israel has stated it cannot accept until Hamas is defeated and the security threat from the Gaza Strip is eliminated. Major foreign media outlets, including Sky News, pointed out these aspects, reporting that "there are doubts about whether significant progress toward a ceasefire can be made."
The United States has begun reviewing Hamas's response. John Kirby, White House National Security Communications Coordinator, said in a virtual briefing with reporters that day, "We have received Hamas's official response from Qatar and Egypt and are reviewing it," adding, "Hamas's response is helpful. U.S. officials are working to resolve this."
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held an emergency meeting the previous day and adopted a resolution supporting the ceasefire plan led by the United States. The three-stage ceasefire plan announced by U.S. President Joe Biden at the end of last month consists of ▲ a complete ceasefire for six weeks, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas within the Gaza Strip, and some hostage exchanges ▲ the exchange of all surviving hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, along with a permanent cessation of hostile acts ▲ the start of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip and the return of the bodies of deceased hostages.
Immediately after the UNSC resolution was adopted, Hamas expressed its welcome, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Tony Blinken, who visited Israel, also described it as a "hopeful sign." Secretary Blinken stated that he had again secured a promise from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to comply with this ceasefire plan, but Israel has not yet publicly disclosed its position regarding the ceasefire plan.
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