Palestinian terror group Hamas has given its answer to the hostage release framework worked out in Paris last weekend, and is still demanding a permanent end to the war, the end of the Israeli-Egyptian blockade on Gaza, the reconstruction of the enclave, and the release of Palestinian security prisoners.
These terms have been non-starters for Israel, which is seeking shorter pauses in fighting for a phased hostage release.
Hamas says in a statement that the terror group “engaged with the proposal in a positive spirit” and was demanding a “comprehensive and complete ceasefire, and ending the aggression against our people, and guaranteeing relief, shelter, [and] reconstruction, [and] lifting the blockade of the Gaza Strip, and completing a prisoner exchange.”
Qatar earlier said Hamas’s answer was a “positive response” and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the US will review Hamas’s answer and he will discuss the developments with Israel tomorrow when he arrives on a visit, following trips to Cairo and Doha.
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
