Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to discuss Gaza ceasefire proposal in Cairo

Gaza: The Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh says the group has received a ceasefire proposal put forward after talks in Paris and that he will visit Cairo to discuss it. Haniyeh said the group’s aim remained to end Israel’s military offensive in Gaza and secure a full pull-out of Israeli forces from the territory.
Israel would struggle to accept such terms, but Qatar, the US and Egypt are hoping to see if the two sides can be persuaded to accept a ceasefire lasting at least a month, during whichthousands of Palestinian prisoners would be released in return for the release of a large group of hostages.
The proposal, described as a framework, was hammered out between Egypt, Qatar, the US and Israel on Sunday in talks in Paris. The location of the talks meant that Hamas negotiators could not be present.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, may be willing to accept a drawback in troops in Gaza during a ceasefire or humanitarian pause, but is unlikely to accept any permanent ceasefire that leaves Hamas military forces intact and capable of mounting a further threat to Israel. Previously, he has said he is prepared to accept a lengthy ceasefire, but on the condition there is no requirement to end hostilities.
Haniyeh said: “Our response to the proposal will be on the basis that the priority is stopping the aggression against Gaza and withdrawing the occupation forces from the Strip”.
“The movement is open to discussing any serious and practical initiatives or ideas, provided that they lead to a comprehensive cessation of aggression, securing the shelter and reconstruction process, lifting the siege, and completing a serious prisoner exchange process.”
Leaks suggest the first phase of the proposed ceasefire includes the release of about 35 hostages, in return for a six-week pause of the fighting. This group is to include women, older men and hostages who are ill or injured. In exchange, Israel would free thousands of Palestinians from its prisons.
Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said on Monday night that “very important, productive work has been done. And there is some real hope going forward.”
“Hamas will have to make its own decisions. I can just tell you that there is good, strong alignment among the countries involved and that this is a good, strong proposal,” Blinken said.
Lord Cameron, the UK foreign secretary, has said any deal requires the removal of the Hamas military leadership from Gaza.
The Gaza health ministry said the death toll was continuing to rise and had claimed 26,751 Palestinian lives with 65,636 injured.
Cameron spoke by phone with the Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safadi to discuss the ceasefire proposal. Safadi warned Cameron about the decision of the UK to suspend payments to UNRWA, the UN relief agency for Palestinians, saying it played an indispensable and irreplaceable role in helping Palestinians confront the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
The UK in common with at least ten other donors has suspended funding following allegations by Israeli intelligence services that nine UNRWA employees were involved in the attacks on Israel on 7 October. The suspension is pending an inquiry being conducted by the UN.