Hamas Ready To Study The Armistice Proposal From Mediators But Nothing New Yet

Israeli military operations in Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday reaffirmed its readiness to discuss the ceasefire proposal, but said it had not yet received any new proposals related to the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip from the mediators.

Previous media reports said Hamas had accepted the United States' proposal to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and end Israel's war on the territory.

"Hamas confirmed that they have not received a new proposal from the mediator," the group said in a statement, quoted from Anadolu September 29.

They said ceasefire negotiations had stalled since Israeli airstrikes on September 9 against Hamas leadership in the Qatar capital, Doha.

Six people died as a result of the attack, including a Qatar security officer. However, Hamas expressed his readiness to study any ceasefire proposals.

"Hamas affirms its readiness to study every proposal received from the mediator with a positive and responsible attitude, in a way that safeguards the national rights of our people," the statement said.

US President Donald Trump on September 25 presented a 21-point peace plan to Arab leaders, demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all Israeli hostages, Gaza's Hamasless government, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the region, according to several media reports.

Arab leaders agreed to most of the points but requested additions, including guarantees against West Bank annexation, maintaining Jerusalem's status quo, increasing humanitarian aid, and handling Israeli settlements, regional diplomats told CNN.

Separately, Hamas on Sunday said it had lost contact with two Israeli prisoners amid an unrelenting Israeli attack in Gaza City, citing Anadolu's Middle East Monitor.

The Hamas military wing, Qassam Brigade, said communications with prisoners of Omni Miran and Matan Angrest were cut off due to "barbarbaric military operations and heavy bombardment" in the Sabra and Tel al-Hawa areas of Gaza City over the past 24 hours.

"The hostages' lives are in real danger," the group warned in a statement.

The group demanded that Israeli troops immediately withdraw to the south of Jalan 8 in Tel al-Hawa and stop the airstrikes for 24 hours starting at 6 pm local time, to allow efforts to save the two hostages.

There was no comment from the Israeli army regarding Hamas' statement.

Israeli soldiers advanced several meters north of Tel al-Hawa in the southwesternern part of Gaza City last Monday, as part of Tel Aviv's efforts to occupy the entire city and move its residents to the south.

The latest conflict broke out in Gaza after Palestinian militant groups attacked Israel's southern region on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and causing 251 others to be held hostage, according to Israeli calculations.

It was responded to by airstrikes, blockades and ground operations by Israel to the Gaza Strip. The Ministry of Health on Sunday confirmed that Palestinian deaths since October 2023 had reached 66,005 people, while injuries reached 168,162 people.

Israel estimates 48 of its citizens are detained in Gaza, 20 of whom are still alive.