Hamas considers Gaza conflict completely over

Hamas considers the Gaza war over, the top official for the Palestinian group abroad, Khalil al-Hayya, said on Thursday in a televised address, citing guarantees from mediators.

Al-Hayya noted that the Palestinian delegation received assurances from the mediators and the US administration that “the war has ended completely.” Al-Hayya is also the head of the Hamas negotiating delegation in the talks on a ceasefire.

Hamas has “given a response that serves the interests of the Palestinian people and spares bloodshed,” he said, referring to the agreement based on the US peace plan.

“We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain and that we will remain true to our promise and not give up the national rights of our people: to achieve freedom, independence, and self-determination.”

An Israeli spokeswoman confirmed earlier that an agreement on key points of a plan to end the Gaza conflict had been signed in the morning, paving the way for the first phase of the US proposal.

Hamas will continue to work with national and Islamic factions to realize the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, al-Hayya said.

The agreement includes the release of hostages abducted to the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of Israeli troops to an agreed line after two years of war.

Israel would free around 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and roughly 1,700 others detained after the Hamas-led attacks two years ago, which sparked the war.