Hamas, PIJ submit response to latest hostage-for-truce offer, expressing ‘readiness to positively’ reach deal

In a joint statement, the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups express “readiness to positively” reach a Gaza ceasefire deal, in their first official response since US President Joe Biden presented what he said was Israel’s latest offer for a hostage-for-truce agreement.

“The response gives priority to the interest of our Palestinian people, and the necessity of completely stopping the ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip,” the statement says.

They add that they have submitted their response to the proposed Gaza ceasefire deal to Qatari and Egyptian mediators, which Doha and Cairo confirm without giving details.

The Hamas response comes after the UN Security Council yesterday adopted a US-led resolution urging Hamas to accept Israel’s latest proposal, as Washington aims to intensify global pressure on the terror group in order to bring about an end to the war in Gaza.