Hamas says ready for indirect talks to resolve ‘points of contention’ on Gaza deal

Hamas announces that it is “ready to immediately start a round of indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on the points of contention” a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Israel.

Hamas says the goal of the talks is to reach a deal that “ensures relief for our people and an end to the humanitarian catastrophe, ultimately leading to a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of the occupation forces.”

The terror group doesn’t say that it has rescinded the updated proposal that it submitted yesterday to US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who called it “totally unacceptable” and asserted that it “takes us backward.”

Witkoff said in that statement that he had wanted Hamas to accept his “framework proposal” as the basis for another round of talks this week.

This was the first time that Witkoff had publicly stated that his proposal was only a starting point for another round of talks.

Hamas in its statement appears to confirm its willingness to hold those talks but does not specify whether it has walked back some of the revelations it issued to the Witkoff proposal.

The primary amendment it wanted added was one that would make it harder for Israel to resume fighting after the 60-day truce currently under discussion, similarly to what Jerusalem did after the previous deal reached in January.

AFP contributed to this report.