Hamas official reported to indicate group open to Gaza deal

A top Hamas official appears to indicate that the Gazan terror group is open to a deal with Israel as talks aimed at ending the war and freeing hostages restart in Doha.

Husam Badran, a senior member of Hamas’s Qatar-based political bureau, says in a statement carried by the Pro-Hamas Shehab news agency that an agreement is possible.

“Our demands are clear and known, and a deal can be reached, provided that Netanyahu remains committed to what was already agreed upon,” Badran says.

It is unclear if Badran’s comments are in reaction to an Egyptian proposal for a two-day ceasefire in Gaza to exchange four Israeli hostages for some Palestinian prisoners, followed by 10 days of talks.

Saudi news station Al Arabiya reported earlier that Hamas was willing to accept the Egyptian proposal as long as it is incorporated into its July 2 demands for a hostage deal. It also seeks guarantees that Israel will commit to the Egyptian proposal being part of a comprehensive deal.

Hamas sources also told Saudi channel Asharq News that the group preferred a comprehensive deal rather than a piecemeal one.