Day: February 6, 2024

The Israeli prime minister’s office said Tuesday the country’s Mossad spy agency is examining the response of Palestinian resistance group Hamas to a proposed deal to halt the Israeli war on Gaza.

File photo: Israel s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, is surrounded by lawmakers at a session of the Knesset, Israel s parliament, in Jerusalem, Israel. AP

“Hamas’s reply has been conveyed by the Qatari mediator to the Mossad. Its details are being thoroughly evaluated by the officials involved in the negotiations.” said a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

Hours earlier, Hamas said it handed its response on a truce deal aimed at halting the war.

“A short while ago, the Hamas movement delivered its response to the framework agreement to the brothers in Qatar and Egypt,” a statement said, referring to “a comprehensive and full ceasefire”.

The militant group has for more than a week mulled the deal drawn up in its absence at Paris talks, as international pressure mounts to end the four-month Israeli aggression.

Hamas said the proposal was aimed at “ending the aggression against our people, securing relief and shelter, reconstruction, lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip, and completing the process of a prisoner exchange”.

Israel’s ground invasion and relentless bombardment have killed at least 27,585 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Israel’s war on Gaza began on 7 October with an offensive by Hamas which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, according to official Israeli figures.

Hamas fighters also seized around 250 captives. Israel says 132 remain in Gaza including 28 who are believed to have been killed.

Hamas has asserted that Israel’s carpet bombing of the territory has led to the deaths of captives.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online

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