Hamas has reportedly announced its rejection of the Israeli ceasefire proposal, arguing that the plan does not guarantee a permanent end to hostilities.
According to Saudi-based media, a memo from Hamas to other Palestinian militias outlined the reasons for the rejection, stating that the proposal is “fundamentally different” from the one presented by US President Joe Biden on May 31st.
Hamas emphasised its commitment to the proposal it accepted on May 6th.
Egypt had unilaterally amended this proposal to include a permanent end to hostilities, a modification that Hamas does not accept.
Hamas has consistently maintained that it will not agree to any ceasefire that does not ensure a permanent cessation of hostilities following the initial phase of the proposal.
Hamas views any temporary ceasefire that does not lead to the complete destruction of Israel as insufficient. As of June 6th, the United States reported that Hamas had not officially responded to the Israeli proposal.
This rejection comes amid reports that negotiations involving Israel, Hamas, and international mediators have stalled.
Egyptian sources indicated that mediators have been trying to assure Hamas that the proposal would lead to an end to the fighting and a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Hamas is expected to continue rejecting ceasefire proposals that do not meet its maximalist objectives, including a permanent ceasefire.
The group remains confident in its ability to withstand Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and believes it can pursue its demands without making significant concessions.
Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ leader in the Gaza Strip, stated in February that his forces were in good condition and could survive an operation in Rafah.
He indicated no urgency in securing an agreement in early May.
Observations by CTP-ISW suggest that Hamas’ confidence in its survival has grown, and its ceasefire demands have become more rigid as the Israeli Defence Forces began to reduce their presence in the Gaza Strip from late December 2023.
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