Hamas-Israel conflict: Hamas eases conditions for ceasefire

In the Middle East-North Africa region, regional media reported that the Palestinian Hamas movement has eased its conditions for accepting a ceasefire to end the nine-month war in the Gaza Strip, sending new proposals to Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

Under Hamas' new proposals, the movement is dropping its demand for a written commitment from Israel to a permanent ceasefire at the end of the initial 45-day period of the three-phase plan, sources said.

In addition, Hamas will accept international guarantees that negotiations on a permanent ceasefire or "lasting calm" will begin at the beginning of the first phase and end at the end of it.

Hamas also said it was ready to accept Israel's gradual withdrawal from Gaza, dropping its demand that "the withdrawal must be completed by the end of the first phase."

According to the sources, the release of the Hamas hostages will depend on the progress of negotiations on a permanent ceasefire and Israel's withdrawal from Gaza.

Earlier on July 3, Israel received Hamas' response to revised proposals first announced by US President Joe Biden on May 31 for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of about 120 hostages held in the Mediterranean strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed he will not agree to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, saying he wants temporary truces to allow for the release of hostages.

He also rejected the idea of ​​a complete withdrawal from Gaza. He repeatedly said that the war in Gaza would not end until Hamas was destroyed.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office said Mr Netanyahu reiterated the principles to which Israel is committed, in particular the commitment to end the war only after all objectives have been achieved.

Mediators from Egypt, the United States and Qatar have tried unsuccessfully for months to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.

The only ceasefire, also brokered by these mediators, lasted only a week and ended on December 1, after Hamas released about 100 Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Meanwhile, on July 4, a spokesman for the Israeli Finance Ministry said the agency had approved a new payment worth more than $140 million to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Earlier, the Israeli Finance Ministry announced that it had unfrozen some PA funds that it controlled.

Since the outbreak of the war with Hamas, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has withheld taxes collected on behalf of the PA.

However, Israeli officials said on July 3 that they had paid 435 million shekels ($116 million) in taxes collected in April and May to the PA.

Israel's Finance Ministry spokesman said it will pay an additional 530 million shekels (more than $140 million) in taxes collected on behalf of the PA in June.

PA Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa confirmed the 435 million shekel payment from Israel during a cabinet meeting on July 3.

Mr Mustafa said the money would be used to pay salaries owed to tens of thousands of Palestinian civil servants and suppliers.

Under a 1994 protocol, Israel collects taxes and customs duties for the Palestinian Authority.

Economists estimate that taxes collected by Israel account for up to 60% of the PA's revenue. Israel stopped paying taxes collected by the PA after the October 7 events because of the PA's alleged support for terrorism.