Hamas Welcomes US President's Change In Planned Transfer Of Gazans

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem on Wednesday welcomed US President Donald Trump's remarks on his proposal to permanently move Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, urging him to refrain from aligning with the vision of "extreme right-wing Zionist kambak."

The statement came after President Trump said on Wednesday that "no one expelled Palestinians from Gaza" in response to questions during a meeting at the White House with Irish Prime Minister Miche Yahel Martin.

"If US President Trump's statement is a withdrawal from the idea of expelling the citizens of the Gaza Strip, the statement is welcomed," Qassem said in the statement.

"We (Hamas) call for this position to be strengthened by requiring the Israeli occupation to implement all terms of the ceasefire agreement," he continued.

Last month, President Trump proposed the takeover of Gaza by the US, where Israeli military attacks in the past 17 months have killed tens of thousands of people, having previously suggested that Palestinians in the enclave should evacuate permanently.

On Sunday, Taher Al-Nono, Hamas leader's political adviser, confirmed unprecedented direct talks with Washington in the Qatar capital over the past week, focusing on the release of dual American-Israeli nationals detained by militant groups in Gaza.

He added that the meeting between Hamas leaders and US hostage negotiator Adam Boehler had also discussed ways to see the implementation of a gradual agreement aimed at ending the Israeli-Gaza war.

The day before, Israel and Hamas signaled they were preparing for the next stage of ceasefire negotiations, as mediators continued talks to extend the ceasefire for 42 days starting in January.

The Hamas delegation met in the past two days with Egyptian mediators and reaffirmed its readiness to negotiate the next ceasefire phase. Israel sent negotiators to Doha on Monday for ceasefire negotiations.