by Yael Halfon, Maya Gur Ariyeh, Sam Halpern
"Hamas is ready for a ceasefire agreement and a serious deal to exchange prisoners," a senior Hamas official was cited as saying.
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Hamas on Wednesday said it was ready for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect on Wednesday morning.
"We are committed to cooperating with any effort to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, and we are interested in ending the aggression against our people," the terror group said in a statement.
"We have informed mediators in Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey that Hamas is ready for a ceasefire agreement and a serious deal to exchange prisoners," a Hamas official told AFP.
The official, however, reportedly accused Israel of obstructing an agreement.
Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that Hamas has shown "flexibility" in reaching a ceasefire and blamed the failure to reach a deal on Israel.
When referring to the ceasefire in Lebanon, Zuhri said that the group "appreciates" Lebanon's right to reach an agreement that protects the people of Lebanon and hopes for a deal to end the war in Gaza.
US President Joe Biden and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said later on Wednesday that the US was renewing the push to secure a Gaza ceasefire.
"Over the coming days, the United States will make another push with Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, Israel, and others to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza with the hostages released and an end to the war without Hamas in power," Biden wrote on X/Twitter.
Both Egypt and Qatar expressed hope that the ceasefire would lead to achieving a deal in Gaza.
On Tuesday, Biden drew a correlation between the ceasefire in Lebanon and an agreement in Gaza, stating the Palestinians deserved a secure and prosperous future, as did the Lebanese people.
In addition, Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the ceasefire with Lebanon, noting, "What's at stake as well, I think, are the larger ramifications of getting an agreement, including what I believe can be very positive effects on also ending the conflict in Gaza."
Further on Tuesday, Walla reported that sources in the security establishment have indicated that a ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, such that the terror organization would be bound to uphold its obligations, could bring about an advancement in the hostage deal negotiations.
According to the report, such a deal could include Israel maintaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor in southern Gaza.
Military pressure on Hamas
A senior security official told the Israeli news outlet that the military pressure applied on Hamas would near the possibility of achieving a deal.
The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into effect at 4:00 a.m. local time. The agreement includes a 60-day period during which Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon, where the Lebanese military would be deployed, with Hezbollah moving north of the Litani River.
Hannah Sarisohn and Reuters contributed to this report.
This is a developing story.
Yael Halfon, Maya Gur Ariyeh, Sam Halpern
Source: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-830937
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