Hamas ready for humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza
According to a VNA correspondent in the Middle East, on the evening of July 23, the head of the Hamas movement, Khaled Mashaal, who is living in exile in Qatar, said that the force is ready to reach a temporary ceasefire agreement to facilitate humanitarian activities in Gaza, but affirmed that it will not accept a comprehensive ceasefire until an agreement is reached on the conditions set by Hamas.
According to a VNA correspondent in the Middle East, on the evening of July 23, the head of the Hamas movement, Khaled Mashaal, who is living in exile in Qatar, said that the force is ready to reach a temporary ceasefire agreement to facilitate humanitarian activities in Gaza, but affirmed that it will not accept a comprehensive ceasefire until an agreement is reached on the conditions set by Hamas.
Speaking at a press conference in Qatar, Mr. Mashaal affirmed that Hamas' demands for a comprehensive ceasefire agreement, including the complete lifting of Israel's blockade of Gaza and the opening of all border crossings connecting the area to the outside, were "legitimate."
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| Hamas Islamist movement leader Khaled Meshaal speaks at a press conference in Doha, Qatar on July 23. (Source: AFP/TTXVN) |
He stressed that Hamas would not accept any lasting ceasefire that evaded these demands.
On the same day, a senior Hamas official said there had been "progress" in negotiations to end the current conflict in Gaza, while emphasizing that Hamas needed guarantees that Israel would lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip before signing an agreement.
"We need assurances from the parties requesting the ceasefire" (including the US and Egypt) about the timetable and mechanism for lifting the Israeli blockade, the official said in an interview with AFP.
The official expressed hope that the talks would reach a conclusion "in the next few days."
US Secretary of State John Kerry also said that ceasefire talks in Gaza "have made progress," but much work remains to be done.
Mr. Kerry held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, after discussions with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, paving the way for dialogue to address the root causes of the problem.
Israel's military campaign in Gaza has entered its 17th day. More than 700 people have been killed and 4,500 injured in the campaign.
On July 23, three Israeli soldiers were killed, bringing the total number of soldiers killed since the beginning of the campaign to 32./.
According to VNA
