Palestinians migrate to safer areas as a result of Israeli assaults that proceed in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Jan. 30.

Ahmed Zaqout/Anadolu through Getty Images

conceal caption

toggle caption

Ahmed Zaqout/Anadolu through Getty Images

Palestinians migrate to safer areas as a result of Israeli assaults that proceed in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Jan. 30.

Ahmed Zaqout/Anadolu through Getty Images

Hamas on Tuesday responded to a proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza in return for a hostage launch in a “positive” method, stated the Qatari mediator who helped draw up the plan.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who has been a key mediator within the efforts to finish Israel’s battle in opposition to Hamas in Gaza, said he was “optimistic” and noted that the Palestinian group’s response to the blueprint had included some feedback however “in general it is positive.”

He was talking in Doha, Qatar, throughout a joint information convention with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who’s on his fifth tour of the area since Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault on Israel that triggered a virtually four-month-long Israeli navy marketing campaign within the Gaza Strip.

The Hamas assault killed 1,200 folks and took some 240 hostages again to Gaza, Israeli officers say. Israel’s invasion of Gaza has killed greater than 27,000 folks, in accordance with Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Blinken, who had visited Saudi Arabia and Egypt earlier on his journey, stated he would talk about the Hamas proposal with the Israeli management when he flew to Israel later within the day. Israeli officers stated they have been learning the proposal.

Hamas launched its personal assertion, saying it had obtained it in a “positive spirit” however nonetheless insisting on a everlasting cease-fire and a withdrawal of Israeli navy forces from the Gaza Strip, which Israel has to this point rejected. Instead, Israel says it needs a brief truce in return for the discharge of round 130 hostages nonetheless being held in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has beforehand stated his forces would struggle on till they achieved “total victory” over Hamas.

Blinken admitted “there’s still a lot of work to be done” however stated in his talks in Saudi Arabia that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had stated his nation was able to normalize ties with Israel if there may be peace in Gaza.

President Biden acknowledged Hamas’ response to the proposal saying, “There’s some movement, there has been a response from … Hamas,” in accordance with The Associated Press. “But it seems to be a little over the top. We’re not sure where it is. There’s continuing negotiations.”

Last week, a senior Hamas official told Reuters the proposal concerned a three-stage cease-fire, with Hamas releasing the remaining civilian hostages within the first stage, then captured troopers within the second and eventually the our bodies of lifeless hostages.