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An Israeli tank near the Gaza Strip: International mediators are trying to bring about a ceasefire between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas

Photo: Jim Hollander / UPI Photo / IMAGO

The Gaza Strip terrorist organization Hamas has submitted its response to international mediators' latest proposal for a temporary ceasefire in the war with Israel. "We have received a positive response from Hamas, it contains several reservations, but is generally positive," said Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Tuesday at a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Doha.

In a statement posted on its Telegram channel, Hamas said it and its allies had handled the mediation proposal "in a positive spirit." However, the agreement must lead to a complete and comprehensive ceasefire, an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the reconstruction of the war-torn coastal area and the full release of Palestinian prisoners.

Representatives of Israel, Qatar, Egypt and the USA developed the proposal. US Secretary of State Blinken said in Doha that Hamas' response had been studied and forwarded to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Tuesday evening that Qatar had forwarded Hamas' response to the foreign intelligence agency Mossad. "Their details will be thoroughly evaluated by the officials involved in the negotiations," the statement said.

US President Joe Biden commented on the development on Tuesday in Washington with the words: "There is some movement." There was a reaction from Hamas, but it seemed "a little exaggerated." Qatar, Egypt and the USA have been making intensive efforts for several weeks to bring about a ceasefire and secure the release of more than 130 Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

The proposal appears to leave important details open

According to media reports, the mediators' proposal is a multi-stage framework agreement that provides for a longer ceasefire, but leaves several important details open. In the first phase, Hamas is expected to release three dozen female, elderly male and injured hostages. During the ceasefire, Israel and Hamas should then continue to negotiate through mediators in order to achieve the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

The proposed deal leaves important details open - they still need to be clarified in the course of further negotiations. No number has yet been negotiated for the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

In the only agreement of its kind to date, Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners, all women and teenagers, in November in return for 105 Hamas hostages. Among them were 14 German citizens.

The Israel-Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented massacre carried out by terrorists from Hamas and other extremist Palestinian organizations on October 7th in Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip.

Israel says it has found evidence of money flows between Iran and Hamas

Meanwhile, the Israeli army says it has found evidence of money flows between Iran and Hamas in the extensive tunnel system under the Gaza Strip. Soldiers discovered documents showing transfers of over $150 million (140 million euros) from Iran to Hamas and its leader in the Gaza Strip, Jihia al-Sinwar, from 2014 to 2020, military spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Tuesday.

The armed forces published several documents as well as photos of envelopes and cash. The information could not initially be independently verified. "This is another example of how Iran is exporting terror in the Middle East," said Hagari. "The terror that Iran exports and causes is a global problem."

Israel has been Iran's declared archenemy since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Hamas, along with other militias such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, belongs to the so-called “Axis of Resistance,” a network of groups in the fight against Israel that are supported by Tehran.

hen/dpa/Reuters