A Hamas official said Thursday that the Palestinian militant group is “open to any ideas or proposals for a complete and final cessation of aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip.” Osama Hamdan said the group is not interested in a “partial or temporary cessation of aggression” and reiterated the group’s official position that the remaining hostages who have been held in Gaza since the group launched its deadly Oct. 7 incursion into Israel would only be released after a permanent ceasefire is implemented.
Quick Read
- Hamas Open to Ceasefire Proposals: A Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, stated the group is receptive to proposals for a “complete and final cessation of aggression” in Gaza. He emphasized the need for a permanent solution rather than a temporary or partial ceasefire.
- Condition for Hostage Release: Hamdan clarified that the release of hostages held in Gaza since the Oct. 7 incursion into Israel is contingent on a permanent ceasefire agreement.
- Governance Post-War: Regarding governance in Gaza post-war, Hamdan asserted it should be a decision made solely by the Palestinian people, rejecting any foreign-backed leadership.
- Denial of Iran’s Claim: Hamdan denied the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s claim that Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack was retaliation for the 2020 killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani. He stated the attack was a Palestinian operation, prompted by international collusion against the Palestinian cause and in response to Israeli aggression.
The Associated Press has the story:
Hamas officials say end to war must be final, not temporary
Newslooks- BEIRUT — (AP)
A Hamas official said Thursday that the Palestinian militant group is “open to any ideas or proposals for a complete and final cessation of aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip.”
Osama Hamdan said the group is not interested in a “partial or temporary cessation of aggression” and reiterated the group’s official position that the remaining hostages who have been held in Gaza since the group launched its deadly Oct. 7 incursion into Israel would only be released after a permanent ceasefire is implemented.
He was responding to a question at a press conference about the ongoing discussions regarding roadmap to end the Israel-Hamas war — including a proposal Egypt recently suggested.
As for the enclave’s post-war governance, Hamdan said it would be a “decision of the Palestinian people alone” and that Palestinians in Gaza would “not accept a leadership that comes on the back of a Zionist or American tank or under the protection of this tank.”
He reiterated the group’s denial of a claim made by a spokesman for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Wednesday that the Oct. 7 attack was launched in retaliation for the 2020 killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq. Hamas.
Hamdan said the Oct. 7 attack was “a Palestinian operation in planning, preparation, decision and implementation” and was launched as the “result of international collusion that tried to dispose of the Palestinian cause” in response to Israeli aggression.
