Hamas Militant Group Ready to Implement Ceasefire Based on US Proposal, No New Conditions

JAKARTA - The Palestinian militant group Hamas said on Wednesday its negotiators reaffirmed their readiness to implement an "immediate" ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip based on a previous U.S. proposal, without any new conditions from either party.

The Palestinian group said in a statement its negotiating team, led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, met with mediators on Wednesday, including Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in Doha to discuss the latest developments in Gaza, Reuters reported on September 12.

The talks have so far failed to reach a deal to end the 11-month war. Outstanding issues include control of the Philadelphia corridor, a narrow stretch of land on Gaza's border with Egypt, which remains.

Earlier, CIA Director William Burns, who is also the U.S.'s chief negotiator in Gaza, said on Saturday that a more detailed ceasefire proposal would be made in the coming days.

A previous proposal put forward by US President Joe Biden in June called for a three-phase ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages.

The latest conflict in Gaza, Palestine, erupted after Palestinian militants led by Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, according to an Israeli tally.

That was met with an Israeli campaign of blockades, airstrikes, and ground operations that have so far killed at least 41,084 Palestinians and injured 95,029 others, according to the Gaza health ministry.