President Trump was pleased to hear Hamas delivered a “positive” response to the U.S. ceasefire and hostage release proposal for Gaza.
Mr. Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Friday night that the Hamas reaction was “good” and suggested a deal could happen as early as next week.
“We have to do something about Gaza. … We’re sending a lot of money and a lot of aid. I think it’s been very positive. It’s a good response,” he said, adding he is “very optimistic” that a deal could be struck in the coming days.
Hamas said earlier that day that it responded to the proposal in a “positive spirit” and is ready to start negotiations on implementing the plan.
“The Hamas movement has completed its internal consultations as well as discussions with Palestinian factions and forces regarding the latest proposal by the mediators to halt the aggression against our people in Gaza,” Hamas wrote in a statement on its official website.
“The movement has delivered its response to the brotherly [Qatari and Egyptian] mediators, which was characterized by a positive spirit. Hamas is fully prepared, with all seriousness, to immediately enter a new round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework.”
It was not clear if Hamas’ statement meant it accepted the proposal from Mr. Trump for a 60-day ceasefire.
Hamas has been seeking guarantees that the initial truce would lead to a total end to the war, now nearly two years old. Mr. Trump has been pushing hard for a deal, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to visit the White House next week to discuss it.
Hamas did not say which issues needed to be worked out.
However, an official close to the talks said Hamas had several requests.
This includes that Israeli troops in Gaza pull back to positions it held on March 2 before it broke the previous ceasefire, that aid flow into Gaza in sufficient quantities through the U.N. and other international agencies, and that negotiations continue beyond 60 days if needed to reach a deal for a permanent end to the war and the release of all remaining hostages.
