Portrait of Sami Abou Zuhri, senior Hamas official. (Credit: National News Agency)
A senior Hamas official said on Tuesday that the Palestinian militant group was studying new proposals from mediators to end the war in Gaza, while reiterating that these proposals must involve a “complete Israeli military withdrawal” from the enclave.
“The movement confirmed that it is open to any agreement or idea that would end the suffering of our people in Gaza and achieve a permanent cease-fire, as well as the withdrawal of the occupier from the entire Gaza Strip,” said Sami Abu Zuhri in a televised speech.
He also said that an agreement must end the Israeli blockade of the coastal enclave, allow unrestricted humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of Gaza, and achieve an exchange of Israeli hostages in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
Abu Zuhri's statement brought no change to the conditions set by the Palestinian movement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that the war can only end when Hamas is eradicated.
Qatar, for its part, has affirmed that it will work as a mediator with the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden “until the last minute” before the Nov. 5 presidential election to reach a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, a Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.
“We don't foresee any negative outcome of the elections on the mediation process itself. We believe that we are dealing with institutions, and in a country like the United States, institutions are invested in finding a solution to this crisis,” said spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari at a press conference.
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