Hamas put forth ‘realistic’ proposal for Gaza truce: Official

A senior Hamas official says the resistance group has put forward a “realistic” ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip that involves the release of Israeli captives and the withdrawal of occupation forces from the besieged Palestinian territory.

Osama Hamdan, a Lebanon-based Hamas official, made the remarks on Saturday night as reports say the stalled Gaza truce talks are expected to restart in Qatar as soon as Sunday. 

“Hamas’s recent offer for a ceasefire [in Gaza] is so realistic that the enemy cannot reject it,” he said.

“In its proposal, Hamas has provided specific details regarding the issue of captives and the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza.”

Hamdan also noted that Hamas is still waiting for a response from Israel and its supporter in the bloody Gaza war, the United States.

The Zionist regime has not achieved any of its declared objectives of “destroying Hamas” and finding the Israeli captives held in Gaza, he added. “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows what blows his regime’s military has suffered.”

The Hamas official further said that the resistance group has insisted on an end to the Israeli aggression against Gaza in all its contacts with mediators.

The upcoming Gaza truce talks would mark the first time both Israeli and Hamas leaders officials join the indirect negotiations since the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

According to Egyptian officials, Hamas’s new proposal includes a three-stage plan to end the war.

The first stage would be a six-week ceasefire that would see the release of 35 Israeli captives in exchange for 350 Palestinian abductees held in the regime’s jails.

In the second phase, the two sides would declare a permanent ceasefire and swap more prisoners.

In the third stage, Hamas would hand over the bodies it is holding in exchange for Israel lifting the inhumane blockade on Gaza and allowing the reconstruction process to start.

Families of Israeli captives renew call for return of relatives

In a statement released on Saturday, the families of Israeli captives emphasized that victory will be achieved by the return of their relatives not by the elimination of Hamas, Palestinian news agency Sama reported.

They warned that time is running out for the return of captives as Netanyahu is pursuing his own personal interests and dragging his foot on a deal with Hamas.