Hamas Official Reportedly Indicates His Group Is Open To The Agreement On Gaza

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

JAKARTA - A high-ranking Palestinian Hamas group official reportedly indicated his group was open to an agreement with Israel, as negotiations aimed at ending the war and releasing hostages restarted in Doha, Qatar.

Husam Badran, a senior member of the Qatar-based political bureau of Hamas, said in a statement published by the Pro-Hamas Shehab news agency that the deal might have taken place.

"Our demands are clear and known, and an agreement can be reached, provided (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu remains committed to what has been agreed," Badran said, quoted by The Times of Israel Oct. 28.

It is unclear whether Badran's comments were a reaction to Egypt's proposal for a two-day ceasefire in Gaza to exchange four Israeli hostages for several Palestinian prisoners, followed by negotiations for 10 days.

As previously reported, Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made the announcement as efforts to defuse the more than a year-long war resumed in Qatar, involving the CIA Director and Israel's intelligence agency Mossad.

Speaking with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune during a press conference in Cairo, President Sisi also said talks should resume within 10 days of the implementation of a temporary ceasefire in a bid to reach a permanent ceasefire.

Saudi Arabian news station Al Arabiya reported earlier that Hamas was willing to accept Egypt's proposal as long as it was included in its demands on July 2 for the hostage deal.

Hamas juga mencari jaminan Israel akan berkomitmen pada usulan Mesir, sebagai bagian dari kesepakatan komprehensif.

Hamas sources also told the Saudi channel Asharq News the group prefers a comprehensive deal over a piece-of-piece deal.

Israel itself is known to say the war will not end until Hamas is eradicated as a military force and a government entity in Gaza.

Together with the United States and Qatar, Egypt has spearheaded negotiations to end the war that erupted after Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel on October 7 last year, killing 1,200 people and holding more than 250 people hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Meanwhile, Gaza authorities said the death toll from Palestine as of Sunday had reached 42,847, while about 100,544 others were injured, quoted from WAFA.