Hamas Student Proposal Of Gaza's Armistice, Still Asks Israel To Withdraw Troops

JAKARTA - Hamas is studying the "final" ceasefire proposal for Gaza echoed by US President Donald Trump. But Hamas remains adamant that Israel wants to withdraw from Gaza.

Trump previously confirmed Israel agreed to the necessary requirements to resolve a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas following a meeting between its representatives and Israeli officials.

The Palestinian militant group said it was studying a new ceasefire offer received from Egyptian and Qatar mediators.

Hamas remains with the goal of reaching an agreement that will ensure the end of the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

On the opposite side, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the destruction of Hamas in his first public statement since Trump's announcement.

"There will be no Hamas. There will be no 'Hamastan'. We're not going back there. It's over," Netanyahu said in a meeting organized by the Trans-Israel pipeline.

The statements of both sides reiterated the position that has been held for a long time, without providing any hint of whether or how a compromise deal could be reached.

"I hope this time it works, even if it's only two months, it will save thousands of innocent lives," said Kamal, a Gaza City resident, by telephone.

Others questioned whether Trump's remarks would result in long-term peace.

"We hope he is as serious as he was serious during the Israel-Iran war when he said the war had to stop, and the war was stopped," said Adnan Al-Assar, a Khan Younis resident in southern Gaza.

There is growing public pressure on Netanyahu to reach a permanent ceasefire and end a war that has lasted nearly two years.

But such a move was opposed by members of the hardline from the ruling coalition of his right wing.

At the same time, US and Israeli attacks on nuclear sites in Iran and the ceasefire agreed in Israel-Iran air warfare over 12 days last month had put pressure on Hamas, which is backed by Tehran. Israeli leaders believe with Iran's weakening, other countries in the region have the opportunity to establish ties with Israel.