The long-awaited response was greeted with scenes of joy and gunfire in Rafah. Hamas said Monday that it had informed Egypt and Qatar that it accepted their proposal for a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip devastated by seven months of war.
“Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, spoke by telephone with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdelrahmane Al Thani and Egyptian Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel and informed them that Hamas had approved their proposal for “ceasefire agreement,” according to a statement published on the Palestinian movement’s website.
Israel’s expected response
A Hamas official told AFP that “the ball is now in the court” of Israel. “The ball is now in the court” of Israel, which has the choice “between accepting the ceasefire agreement or obstructing it,” said this official on condition of anonymity.
At the announcement of this Hamas decision, people rejoiced and gave glory to God in the town of Rafah, reported an AFP correspondent on the spot, according to whom “people are crying with joy and there are celebratory shots in the air.”