Bethlehem / PNN - Tala Jado 

The head of the political bureau of the Islamic Movement (Hamas), Ismail Haniyeh, and the Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, delivered their response to the American proposal regarding the ceasefire to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, yesterday evening, Tuesday.

Sources mentioned that the response included amendments to the American proposal, including a ceasefire. The amendments also included the Israeli withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip, including the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphia Axis, according to the same sources.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry stated in a statement that Doha and Cairo have received responses from Hamas and the Palestinian factions regarding the proposed ceasefire and the exchange of prisoners and detainees.

The Qatari statement confirmed that the efforts of Doha and Cairo in their joint mediation with the United States continue until an agreement is reached. It pointed out that the mediators will study the response and coordinate with the concerned parties regarding the next steps.

The United States quickly welcomed the response from the resistance, with National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby stating, "We have learned of Hamas handing over its response to Qatar and Egypt, and we are evaluating it... It is helpful that we have received Hamas's response to the proposal, and we reserve comment on it until it is reviewed."

Kirby noted that his country will take the necessary time to evaluate the response appropriately before determining the next steps.

Hamas and Jihad

In a joint statement issued by Hamas and the Islamic Jihad Movement, it was stated that the response delivered to Qatar and Egypt places "priority on the interests of our Palestinian people, the necessity of a complete cessation of aggression against Gaza, and the withdrawal from the entire Gaza Strip."

The two Palestinian movements also expressed their readiness "to positively engage in reaching an agreement to end this war against our people based on a sense of national responsibility."

Reuters quoted Hazem Qassem, a member of Hamas's political bureau, as saying that their response to the proposed ceasefire agreement "opens the way wide for reaching an agreement."

Qassem added that Hamas's response is characterized by "responsibility, seriousness, and positivity."