'Open to any deal or ideas that...': Hamas official confirms review of mediated proposals to end Gaza war

A senior Hamas official on Tuesday said that the Palestinian militant group is reviewing new proposals from mediators to resolve the Gaza war but emphasised that any agreement must include a complete Israeli military withdrawal from the territory.

“The movement has confirmed it is open to any deal or ideas that ends the suffering of our people in Gaza and achieve a permanent ceasefire, and the occupation’s withdrawal from all of Gaza Strip,” Reuters quoted Sami Abu Zuhri as saying in a televised speech.

He also said that any agreement must lift the Israeli-led blockade of Gaza, allow unrestricted humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts, and facilitate a swap of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

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Abu Zuhri’s comments indicate that the faction’s demands remain unchanged.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that the war can only conclude with the complete dismantling of Hamas.

A spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry announced on Tuesday that Qatar will continue to mediate, alongside the Biden administration, “until the last minute” before the November 5 presidential election in pursuit of a ceasefire deal for Gaza.

“We don’t foresee any negative result of the elections on the mediation process itself. We believe we are dealing with institutions, and in a country like the United States the institutions are invested in finding a resolution to this crisis,” Reuters quoted spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari as saying during a press conference.

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Israel’s Mossad spy chief and the CIA director had recently attended talks in the Qatari capital, Doha the first high-level talks since ceasefire efforts aimed at ending the war in Gaza broke down in August.

David Barnea and William Burns were joined by Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in efforts to revive talks after the killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar on October 16.

Families of Israeli captives are intensifying pressure on the government to negotiate a deal for their release. Nearly 100 captives remain in Gaza as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected negotiations and escalated military operations. He has faced months of protests calling for a resolution to bring the captives home.

On Sunday, Israeli protesters disrupted Netanyahu during a speech at a memorial for the victims of the October 7, 2023, attacks, shouting “shame on you.” Those attacks, carried out by Hamas, resulted in the deaths of at least 1,100 people.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s office said in a statement on X that the Mossad chief had returned from the talks.

“In the coming days, discussions will continue between the mediators and Hamas to assess the feasibility of talks and to further efforts to promote a deal,” the PMO said in a statement on Monday.

The Qatari prime minister said his country has recently “re-engaged” with Hamas leaders in Doha following the death of Sinwar. In July, Israel also killed Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s main negotiator, while he was visiting Tehran.

Truce negotiations have repeatedly faltered over more than a year of conflict, which has resulted in nearly 43,000 Palestinian deaths.

Hamas is seeking a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces as part of any agreement. In contrast, Netanyahu insists on maintaining military control over parts of Gaza.

With inputs from agencies