Senior Hamas Leader Says Amendment To Ceasefire Proposal Proposed Is Not Significant

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

JAKARTA - The changes Hamas has asked for a ceasefire proposal pushed by the United States "significant", including the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, a senior leader in the group said on Thursday.

He said Hamas had demanded to select a list of 100 Palestinians with the longest sentence to be released from Israeli prisons.

Meanwhile, Israeli documents have excluded 100 detainees with the longest sentences, limiting releases to detainees with less than 15 years remaining, Hamas officials said.

"No significant amendments have made us objections, according to the Hamas leadership," the senior official said.

The group's demands also include the reconstruction of Gaza; the lifting of the blockade, including the opening of border crossings; allowing movement of people and transporting goods without restrictions," he continued.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, Hamas had proposed many changes. Some could not be implemented, but the mediators were determined to close the gap.

The US said Israel had accepted its proposal, but Israel had not yet declared it open. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel will not commit to ending its campaign before Hamas is removed.

It is known that negotiators from the US, Egypt and Qatar have been trying for months to mediate a ceasefire in the conflict.

The latest war in Gaza broke out after militant groups led by Hamas attacked Israel's southern region on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping about 250 others, according to Israeli tallies.

On the other hand, Gaza's health authorities announced on Wednesday that the death toll of Palestinians since the war broke out had reached 37,202 people and 84,932 others were injured, quoted from WAFA.