Is Hamas ready for ceasefire?
Photo: Reuters
Hamas reports progress in truce talks
Hamas continues to convey positive messages in respect to Egyptian ceasefire initiative; Khaled Mashaal's deputy says organization will accept proposal as long as it takes 'significant Hamas reservations' into consideration
Hamas wants ceasefire? Following Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's conciliatory speech, the group continues to signal that it is interested in a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
"There is a basis to believe that changes will be introduced so that we can accept it," he said.
Hamas political bureau Deputy Chief, Moussa Abu-Marzouk, told al-Jazeera Tuesday that the group is willing to accept the Egyptians truce initiative as long as the organization's reservations are taken into account.
Gaza Op
In televised speech from his Gaza hideout, Haniyeh says Islamist group will back any initiative that will result in 'enemy's withdrawal', but adds Palestinians will 'continue to fight occupying forces until victory achieved with Allah's help'
Marzouk made it clear that Hamas has "significant reservations in respect to this initiative." He said that the changes required by the group pertain to the attitude to Palestinian factions, which he claimed boasted achievements during the fighting.
In another interview, this time to the al-Arabiya network, Marzouk said that "there has been progress in accepting our position." Hamas has sent a delegation from Damascus and Gaza to Cairo to discuss the truce initiative, yet senior group figures have remained in Damascus.
Meanwhile, the deputy chief of Islamic Jihad, Ziad Nakhala, said that the "Arab and international initiatives are meant to boost the pressure on the Palestinians so they raise a white flag."
Members of Hamas and other groups said that the situation on the ground at this time is not prompting them to accept the truce initiatives, which they view as surrender, adding that they have the ability to continue fighting for a long time.
On Monday, Hamas PM in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh offered a conciliatory message in a televised address, saying that the group would cooperate with ceasefire initiatives.
Ali Waked contributed to the report
