Hamas accepts a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution and is ready to negotiate over the details, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri has told Reuters, adding that it was up to the US to ensure that Israel abides by it.
Hamas accepts the UN security council resolution in regard to the ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli troops and swap of hostages for detainees held by Israel, he said.
“The US administration is facing a real test to carryout its commitments in compelling the occupation to immediately end the war in an implementation of the UN Security Council resolution,” Mr Abu Zuhri said
Last night, the UNSC voted to adopt a US-drafted resolution backing a proposal outlined by President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Mr Biden laid out a three-phase ceasefire plan on 31 May that he described as an Israeli initiative.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken said the Hamas statement of support for the UN resolution was a “hopeful sign”, while word coming from the Palestinian militant group’s leadership in Gaza is what counts.
Conversations on plans for Gaza following the ceasefire would continue this afternoon and in the next couple of days, Mr Blinken said.
“It’s imperative that we have these plans.”
He also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “reaffirmed his commitment” to the ceasefire proposal during their meeting in Jerusalem.
“I met with Prime Minister Netanyahu last night and he reaffirmed his commitment to the proposal,” Mr Blinken said,
For months, negotiators from the US, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a ceasefire.
Hamas says it wants a permanent end to the war in Gaza and Israeli withdrawal from the enclave of 2.3 million people.
Israel is retaliating against Hamas, which rules Gaza, over an attack by its militants on 7 October.
More than 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage by Hamas, according to Israeli tallies. More than 100 hostages are believed to remain captive in Gaza.
Israel launched an air, ground and sea assault on the Palestinian territory, killing more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
