Hamas and Islamic Jihad welcome US-backed ceasefire deal

Cairo June 11, 2024(QJ)-Hamas has responded to a US-backed proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and an exchange of captives for prisoners with some “remarks” on the plan, Qatari and Egyptian mediators have said.

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group said in a joint statement on Tuesday that they were ready to agree and that their priority is to bring a “complete stop” to Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told reporters that the group had “submitted some remarks on the proposal to the mediators”. He did not give any details.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministries of Qatar and Egypt said they were examining the response and would continue their mediation efforts with the United States “until an agreement is reached”.

White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby said the US had also received and evaluated the response.

The response comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the Middle East seeking to secure agreement for the ceasefire plan and plans for post-war reconstruction and governance in Gaza.