Gaza: We’re open to ceasefire talks—Hamas leader

Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, on Tuesday said that his movement is examining a draft agreement with Israel.

He said the draft agreement would lead to an exchange of hostages for prisoners and a longer ceasefire in the Gaza war.

Commenting on the developments related to the Paris meeting and the ideas that were circulated there to stop the aggression and release the prisoners.

Haniyeh confirmed that the movement had received the proposal that was circulated at the meeting.

He added that the Palestinian Islamist movement is in the process of studying on it basis that the priority is to stop the aggression, on Gaza.

He revealed that the Hamas leadership was invited to the capital Cairo to discuss the conditions of the Paris draft.

“The movement is open to discussing any serious and practical initiatives or ideas, provided that they lead to a comprehensive cessation of aggression.

This would secure the shelter process for our people as well as reconstruction and lifting the siege, the Hamas leader said in a statement published on the group’s Telegram channel.

The New York Times reported at the weekend, citing U.S. government sources that U.S. negotiators had drawn up a draft based on suggestions from Israel and Hamas.

The deal could therefore stipulate that Hamas releases more than 100 hostages and that Israel stops its military action in the Gaza Strip for around two months.

Hamas abducted around 240 hostages to the Gaza Strip in its brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7.