Israel Studies Hamas Response This Evening Before Netanyahu's Trip to Washington

SadaNews - The Israeli Security Cabinet is scheduled to meet at 10 PM tonight, Saturday, to discuss the response of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to the proposed agreement in Gaza, before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu departs for Washington on Monday.

This morning, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that "there may be an agreement regarding Gaza" next week.

When asked on Air Force One if he was optimistic about reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Trump responded "a lot," though he noted that "things change from day to day."

For its part, Israeli Channel 12 reported last night - citing a source - that in light of Hamas's response, an Israeli delegation is expected to head to Doha for negotiations regarding the terms of the agreement, where indirect talks between the two sides are expected to begin.

The same source noted - according to the Israeli channel - that the negotiations may not take more than a day and a half.

Key Demands

The official Israeli broadcasting authority stated that Hamas still insists on three key demands to amend the terms of the agreement, according to informed sources.

The sources added that the first demand pertains to returning to the previous model of humanitarian aid distribution, which the sources believe allows Hamas to regain some control over the entry of goods into the Gaza Strip.

The second demand concerns what will happen after the 60-day ceasefire period. While Israel believes that the end of the period without an agreement allows for the resumption of fighting, Hamas insists on extending the ceasefire even without a final agreement, according to the source.

The third demand focuses on the map of the Israeli army's withdrawal from Gaza's territories, as Hamas demands a clear and tangible withdrawal from the areas where the Israeli army is stationed within the Gaza Strip.

"Response Characterized by Positivity"

Last night, Hamas stated in a statement that it has "completed its internal consultations, with factions and Palestinian powers regarding the mediators' last proposal to stop the aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza," and that it has submitted "the response to the honored mediators (Egyptians and Qataris)."

It confirmed that its response "was characterized by positivity, and that the movement is fully prepared to enter immediately into a round of negotiations on how to implement this framework."

For its part, the Islamic Jihad Movement announced that it supports its ally's decision to enter negotiations regarding the implementation of the truce proposal, but it requested "guarantees" to transform the temporary ceasefire into a permanent truce.

It added that it has "provided (to Hamas) some detailed comments on the mechanism for implementing the proposal," noting that it is "interested in reaching an agreement," but it wants "additional international guarantees to ensure that the Israeli occupation does not resume its aggression after implementing the clause of releasing prisoners."

Source: Agencies