Description: Spokesperson for Hamas’ political bureau, Bassem Naim has stated that Hamas wanted reassurances and amendments to the US proposal for a ceasefire due to the biased nature of some points that have been previously agreed upon. Naim also stated that the current US proposal which offered a 60 – day hostilities cessation, exchange of hostages and prisoners and continued flow of aid in the Gaza Strip wasn’t in line with the ultimate goal of ending the war. Hamas has neither outrightly rejected nor accepted the ceasefire proposal further extending the humanitarian crisis and growing military offensive by Israel. Official press communique from the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Hamas continues to undermine the peace process with the refusal and the Israeli military would continue conducting its operations both in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. US Special envoy Witkoff has rejected the demands by Hamas labeling them as unacceptable and pleading the organization to considered the US proposal as a way to resolving the war.
Impact: Hamas’ counterproposal is politically and diplomatically realistic since they ensure against potential blowback if Israel does not commit towards negotiations or cessation of hostilities going forward. The US proposal, without Hamas’ amendments, completely puts the terrorist organization in a vulnerable position in the negotiations and further leverages Israel to unilaterally approach a peace initiative or continue with its military offensive. The counterproposal puts a strain on the peace process and halts the negotiations which poses a significant risk in prolonging the desperate humanitarian crisis and the continued devastation of human life and infrastructure in the region. Hamas is facing mounting pressure from local rival groups, Israel’s military, Gaza’s 2.2 million starving population and is militarily destroyed which most probably would pressure the group to agree towards the ceasefire initiative even if all their amendments aren’t met. In case the group continues to be reluctant towards the ceasefire proposal Israel’s occupation would continue unabated with the humanitarian crisis reaching unexplored levels of devastation.