Hamas: We have delivered our response regarding the new prisoner exchange proposal to the mediators

Hamas issued a statement regarding the proposal presented on April 8 concerning a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement in the Gaza Strip.

The statement indicated that Hamas has delivered its response to the proposal to the mediators in Egypt and Qatar.

It was emphasized that Hamas remains committed to the demands of both the movement and the Palestinian people.

It was reiterated that these demands include "a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of the occupying Israeli army from the entire Gaza Strip, the return of forcibly displaced persons to their areas of residence, an increase in the entry of humanitarian aid into the region, and the initiation of reconstruction efforts."

It was noted that Hamas is "ready to sign a serious and genuine prisoner exchange agreement" with Israel.

The statement did not provide information regarding the content of the proposal presented to Hamas on April 8.

Following the resumption of ceasefire and prisoner exchange negotiations in Egypt on April 7, Hamas had announced in a statement on April 9 that a new proposal had been conveyed to them.

Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi stated on April 8 that the proposal presented by the mediators clearly and explicitly ignored the necessity of a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israel from Gaza.

A Palestinian source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed to an AA reporter on April 8 that the proposal presented for a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas consisted of a prisoner exchange and the "conditional" return of displaced Palestinians to regions in the north.

Stating that the proposal consisted of 3 phases, the source reported that the first phase included the release of 900 Palestinians, 100 of whom were serving long-term prison sentences, in exchange for Israeli civilian hostages, and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.

The source reported that in the second phase, an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners would be released in exchange for all Israeli hostages, and in the third phase, the bodies of the Israeli hostages would be handed over.

News Source: AA