Hamas Resistance to Accept Ceasefire and Release of Hostages; United States Awaiting Definitive Response

A week after the latest proposal to halt the war in Gaza was presented, the United States announced that it has not yet received an official response from Hamas, but Egyptian officials say Hamas is unwilling to accept the agreement. On Thursday, June 7, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated that the United States has not received an official response from Hamas regarding the ceasefire proposal and the release of hostages, adding that 'the proposal remains on the table.' Matthew Miller added, 'We have been in discussions with our partners in the region, especially with the governments of Egypt and Qatar, and they have also negotiated with the political wing of Hamas, but we have not yet received an official response.' Meanwhile, two Egyptian security sources indicated that negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. for a ceasefire are ongoing, but no signs of progress have been observed so far. U.S. President Joe Biden proposed a three-phase plan last week that links the release of hostages with a 'complete ceasefire,' a plan he described as the best hope for establishing peace in Gaza. In this context, William Burns, the head of the CIA, met with senior officials in Qatar and Egypt on Wednesday, June 6, to discuss the proposal endorsed by Joe Biden and to find a formula for a complete end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip. It is reported that Hamas officials have reiterated that any agreement must guarantee the end of the war. Israeli officials have repeatedly opposed this request in previous negotiations, stating that they will refrain from accepting such guarantees. During the terrorist attack on October 7, Palestinian militants killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, and took 253 others as hostages to Gaza. Currently, about 120 hostages remain in the hands of Palestinian militants, although Israel believes that more than a third of the remaining hostages in Gaza have been killed. Previously, Israel has stated multiple times that it will continue the fight in Gaza until Hamas is completely destroyed. Hamas has repeatedly opposed ceasefire proposals and the release of hostages. This group is recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and several other countries. Mediation efforts in Doha for a ceasefire in Gaza continue. Spain has called to join South Africa's legal case against Israel. Leaders of 17 countries have supported Biden's plan for a ceasefire in Gaza. Biden has openly criticized Netanyahu, stating that 'there are compelling reasons to believe he has prolonged the conflict to maintain political power.' The largest coalition partner of Netanyahu has supported a possible agreement for the release of hostages. Israeli intelligence assessments indicate that more than a third of the hostages have died; signs of execution have been found in the bodies of some hostages. UN experts have called on all countries to recognize a 'Palestinian state.'