E-Paper
Sign In
iPhone | iPad
Android
Wed, Nov 27, 2024 | Jumada al-Awwal 26, 1446 | DXB
0°C
Hamas says 'ready' for Gaza truce after Lebanon ceasefire
Palestinian Authority expresses hope that a ceasefire will bring stability to the region, especially in war-torn Gaza
Palestinians search for casualties trapped under the rubble of a school sheltering displaced people, following an Israeli strike, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City on Wednesday. — Reuters
Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a senior official in the Palestinian militant group said on Wednesday, hailing the ceasefire that took hold in Lebanon.
"We have informed mediators in Egypt, Qatar and Turkey that Hamas is ready for a ceasefire agreement and a serious deal to exchange prisoners," the official told AFP, however accusing Israel of obstructing a deal.
In a statement released later on Wednesday, Hamas said "the enemy's acceptance of the agreement with Lebanon without achieving its preconditions marks a significant milestone in shattering (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's illusions of reshaping the Middle East through force".
The group also praised the "pivotal" role of its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Authority expressed hope that the ceasefire would bring stability to the region, especially in war-torn Gaza.
"We hope that this step will contribute to stopping the violence and instability that the region is suffering from," the Palestinian presidency said in a statement, highlighting the need to enforce a UN resolution for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Violence in the West Bank — occupied by Israel since 1967 — has surged since the Gaza war erupted after Hamas's unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Sign Up For Breaking News Alerts
Be in the know. Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
