Received Hamas’ response to proposed Gaza ceasefire framework: Egypt

Cairo, Feb 7: Egypt has received Hamas’ response to a Gaza ceasefire proposal nailed during a recent meeting in France, Chairman of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan has said.
Egypt will continue to exert its utmost efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip soon, he said in a statement on Tuesday. He stressed that Egypt will discuss all the details of the proposed framework with the concerned parties as soon as possible, Xinhua news agency reported. Rashwan stated that Egypt had recently put forward a framework aimed at bringing viewpoints closer between all concerned parties to stop Palestinian bloodshed, reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and restore peace and stability to the region.
Accordingly, he said, Palestinian prisoners and Israeli detainees will be exchanged in stages, and humanitarian support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip will be intensified.
Rashwan stressed that Egypt will continue its intense efforts around the clock, to end the fighting in Gaza, and preserve the lives of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights, and turning the proposal into an agreement is an essential first step toward such ends.
Earlier in the day, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said his country received a “positive response” from Hamas on the latest Gaza ceasefire-for-hostage deal proposal. He made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Israel confirms deaths of 31 hostages in custody
Israel has confirmed the death of 31 of the 136 hostages in the custody of Hamas in Gaza.
The army has informed families of those hostages about the death of their loved one’s, IDF said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Israel army, military Intelligence and Intelligence agencies have communicated this matter to the international negotiators including the US, Qatar and Egypt who are working over time for a ceasefire to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Israel and Hamas had agreed upon for a one week ceasefire from November 24 to December 1 due to the efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt. During the brief one week truce,105 of the 253 hostages in Hamas custody were released and 324 Palestine prisoners in Israel jails were also released as a gesture in reciprocation.
Meanwhile, Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al -Thani has in a statement said that the discussions for a second ceasefire is at an advanced stage (IANS)