Momentum behind peace talks gains more steampublished at 00:07 BST 4 October
Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent
No one wants to be seen to say “no” to US President Trump right now – not even Hamas.
Their carefully crafted statement, issued under huge pressure and no doubt input from mediators including Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, was a “yes” – albeit a very incomplete and conditional one.
It only highlights a few issues which matter most, including giving up all the hostages, living and dead, ending the war, and accepting that Gaza will be governed by technocrats.
They also made a point of thanking Trump, along with “the Arab, Islamic, and international efforts”.
Hamas’s statement also sidestepped the issues in Trump’s 20-point peace plan which they still reject including the demand to give up their guns.
Their gamble succeeded, at least for now, with a US President who is more focused than ever before on ending this war, who wants to be seen as a winner; he immediately latched onto Hamas’s reply as proof that peace is possible.
Once the Israeli sabbath ends tomorrow, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu seems certain to be more sceptical.
But the new momentum behind ending Gaza’s grievous war, which gathered pace last week, has just gained a bit more steam.
