US, Qatar and Egypt are Loooking for a Final Formula to Realize a Ceasefire in the Hamas-Israel Conflict

Foreign Minister Blinken and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. (Twitter/@SecBlinken)

JAKARTA - The United States, Qatar, and Egypt are working to prepare a diplomatic push to bridge Hamas' differences with Israel, in order to achieve a ceasefire in the conflict in Gaza, after the Palestinian militant group responded to proposals to extend the pause in fighting and release hostages.

Hamas on Tuesday hit back at a framework laid out more than a week ago by US and Israeli spy chiefs at a meeting in Paris with Egypt and Qatar.

Details of his response were not disclosed. In a statement, Hamas said on Tuesday that it responded "with a positive spirit, ensuring a comprehensive and complete ceasefire, ending the aggression against our people, ensuring aid, protection, and reconstruction, lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip as well as achieving a prisoner exchange," reported Reuters February 7.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, on a flash visit to the Middle East, said he would discuss Hamas' response with Israeli officials when he visits the country on Wednesday.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Blinken began his visit by visiting Saudi Arabia, then successively to Egypt and Qatar, before going to Israel and finally to the West Bank (Palestine).

In Doha, Blinken said, "There is still a lot of work to be done, but we remain confident that an agreement can be reached and that it is important."

Qatar described Hamas' overall response as "positive", while an Egyptian security source told Reuters Hamas was showing flexibility.

"We will discuss all the details of the proposed framework with the relevant parties to reach an agreement on the final formula as soon as possible," said Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt's State Information Service.

Separately, sources close to the negotiations said the ceasefire would last for at least 40 days, during which the militants would free civilians among the remaining hostages they were holding.

The next stage will follow, namely the handover of soldiers and hostage bodies, in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.

The ceasefire will also increase the flow of food and other aid to Gaza's civilian population, who are stricken with despair and face hunger and shortages of basic supplies.

In the United States, President Joe Biden said Hamas' response showed "some movement" toward a deal. However, it is unclear whether Hamas or Israel are willing to soften their hardline positions to reach a ceasefire agreement.

A Hamas official who asked not to be named told Reuters on Tuesday that his group would not allow the release of hostages without guarantees that the war would end and Israeli troops leave Gaza.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would not end its campaign in Gaza until Hamas was destroyed and ruled out the creation of a Palestinian state.