Hamas rejected a hostage deal formulated in Paris over the weekend because it did not include a permanent ceasefire. Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) affirmed that Israel must cease its Gaza offensive and withdraw from the Strip before any prisoner exchange can take place, according to a statement by Hamas on Monday. In Washington, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the proposal given to Qatar as “a strong and compelling one that offers hope that we can return to this process, but Hamas will have to make its own decisions.” Blinken’s comments came amid optimism from the US and Qatar, which along with Egypt has been mediating a deal, that a framework had been established for an agreement. Blinken added that a hostage deal has been a top US priority from the beginning. Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, stated that a phased approach would be taken for the hostagerelease deal, beginning with women and children. He described the framework agreement that emerged from the Paris talks, saying “The framework that was agreed upon with all the parties was based on a proposal by the Israelis and a counter-proposal by Hamas.” The plan will now be conveyed to Hamas. Thani said that Hamas withdrew its demand for a permanent ceasefire before negotiations, but “we moved from that place” to a position that could lead to a ceasefire, “which we are all hoping for.” The goal of the talks is to free the hostages and halt Israeli bombing in Gaza, Thani added. Advancement in the talks comes as the US considers retaliatory military action for an attack that killed three troops in Jordan. Thani expressed hope that this would not undermine progress toward a new Israel-Hamas hostage release deal. Qatar’s role is as a mediator that offers solutions, “We do not see that Qatar is a superpower that can impose something on this party.”
