Hamas's lead negotiator said Thursday, June 5, the militant movement was ready for a new round of negotiations to achieve a permanent ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip.
"We reaffirm that we are ready for a new, serious round of negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement," lead Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya said in a televised speech marking the start of the Muslim Eid al-Adha festivities. Al-Hayya added that contacts with mediators in the war were underway, as he revisited Hamas's current main objectives point by point.
Israel and Hamas appeared close to an agreement late last month, following discussions mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States. US President Donald trump said on May 30 that he believed an agreement for a truce in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas was "very close."
Israel and Hamas then accused each other of scuppering a proposal submitted by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, with the envoy himself describing the Palestinian militants' response as "totally unacceptable".
Al-Hayya reiterated Hamas's position that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shouldered the blame for the impasse.
He added that his movement had not actually rejected Witkoff's latest proposal but that it had submitted demands for a guarantee of a non-resumption of hostilities following any hostage release.