Hamas has reportedly requested a written guarantee from Israel that it will withdraw its troops from Gaza as part of the second phase of a three-phase ceasefire agreement. This information was shared by a Hamas official who preferred to remain anonymous.
According to reports, Hamas is seeking a clear commitment from Israel to withdraw from all of Gaza. Hamas official also confirmed that preparations were underway to reach an agreement on a prisoner exchange between the two sides.
On Saturday, Hamas conveyed its response to the proposed six-week ceasefire to Egyptian and Qatari mediators. An Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, mentioned that Hamas is looking for a comprehensive and phased deal. This includes a permanent ceasefire, an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, and a prisoner exchange involving the release of all Israeli prisoners in exchange for numerous Palestinian prisoners.
The Egyptian official also noted that mediators would carefully review Hamas’s response before scheduling another round of talks.
