Haniyeh: Hamas reply to truce proposal 'consistent' with principles of US plan

Hamas's response to the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal is consistent with the principles put forward in US President Joe Biden's plan, the group's Qatar-based leader, Ismail Haniyeh, said in a televised speech on the occasion of the Islamic Eid al-Adha on Sunday.

"Hamas and the [Palestinian] groups are ready for a comprehensive deal which entails a ceasefire, withdrawal from the strip, the reconstruction of what was destroyed and a comprehensive [prisoners] swap deal," Haniyeh said.

On 31 May, Biden laid out what he called a "three-phase" Israeli proposal that would include negotiations for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza as well as phased exchanges of Israeli and Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas replied to the proposal on 11 June. You can read the full text of their response here, exclusively revealed by MEE.

Palestinian group Hamas' top leader, Ismail Haniyeh speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, 26 March 2024. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters) — Palestinian group Hamas's top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, 26 March 2024. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters)

Reporting by Reuters and MEE