‘There Will Be No Hamas’ In Postwar Gaza: Netanyahu As Group Expresses Openness To Ceasefire

Amidst US-backed ceasefire proposals, Hamas signals openness to a deal contingent on ending the Gaza war, while Netanyahu insists on Hamas's eradication.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Source : Twitter

Ahead of an expected talk on Washington-backed ceasefire proposals, both Hamas and Israel staked out their positions on Wednesday, with the militant group suggesting that it was open to an agreement. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed “there will be no Hamas” in postwar Gaza.

According to news agency AP, both of them stopped short of accepting the proposal announced by US President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Hamas invited on its longstanding position that any deal bring an end to the war in Gaza. 

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before the conditions worsen. The US leader had been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war. 

The US President said that 60-day period would be used to work toward ending the war, which Israel said that it won’t accept until Hamas is defeated. He said that a deal might come together as soon as next week, reports AP.

According to the report, Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said that the militant group was “ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement”. He said Hamas was “ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war.”

A delegation from Hamas is expected to meet with the Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposal, reports news agency AP, quoting an Egyptian official. 

In the 21-month-long war, the ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over whether the war should end as part of any deal. In a brief statement, Hamas said on Wednesday that it had received a proposal from the mediators and is holding talks with them to bridge the gaps to return to the negotiating table in order to try to reach a ceasefire agreement.