Talk about “guarantees” related to stopping the aggression against Gaza has returned to the forefront of the scene awaiting the response of the resistance in Gaza, led by the Hamas movement, to the proposal that was finally formulated and approved in the Paris understandings to stop the aggression, amid continuing consultations at several levels, whether between Resistance factions or between the factions and the international forces supporting them, as well as between mediators.

There appeared to be a willingness to accept a “suspension” of the ceasefire, interspersed with a truce that would ultimately lead to a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.

But the need for further consultation recently prompted Hamas to postpone the visit of a high-level leadership delegation to Cairo, which was scheduled for the end of last week.

These developments came amid disagreement regarding the proposal presented, which does not explicitly provide for a complete ceasefire, leaving that part to understandings during the period of suspension of military operations, guarantees from mediators, as well as signals from the American administration of a desire to end the war.

Hamas sees the danger of handing over prisoners to the Israel

This raises concern for the rest of the factions, which see an extreme danger in the occupation government handing over its prisoners without obligating it to end the aggression completely, which makes them resume military operations after getting rid of the internal pressures imposed on them by the opposition and the families of the prisoners, and perhaps more ferocious than before. They underestimated the importance of American promises, in light of the occupation’s failure to adhere to any previous pledges.

In this context, a prominent leader in the Islamic Jihad movement denied "the existence of any disagreements with Hamas regarding the vision presented to the resistance." He said: “There are no differences at all, and whoever promotes this has malicious goals,” adding: “The matter is merely more consultation, exchange of opinions, and consultation among us, in light of the unity of the resistance in Gaza, in the field and at the political level, and everyone presents his opinion, explaining the reasons.” 

The leader of Al-Jihad confirmed, in an interview with Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed, that “during the ongoing discussions with the brothers in Hamas, we affirm the principle of stopping the war, which is the same vision that they adopt, as there is an agreement that the sacrifices made by the people of Gaza must be It has a great price paid by the occupation, which does not stop at ending the aggression only, but also includes breaking the siege that was imposed on the Gaza Strip for the past 17 years, after the complete withdrawal from Gaza, facilitating the reconstruction process, and alleviating the burden on the shoulders of the displaced and displaced.

The leader continued: “We see that the proposed guarantees may be insufficient before agreeing to the proposal presented to the resistance in Gaza, and it is possible that the movement will accept negotiations or a cessation of military operations, provided that this ultimately leads to a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, as well as the presence of clear guarantees.” It is stipulated that the mediators and the American administration adhere to.”

He said: “Today we have in our hands what places the neck of (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu under the feet of the resistance - in reference to the prisoners - which makes him, his government, and the American administration eager and eager after the resistance in order for it to agree to a ceasefire and the exchange deal, especially after the war entering its fourth month without achieving any of the goals they announced.”

Hamas is committed to a complete end to the aggression

For his part, a Hamas leader stressed that “there is no change in the movement’s position,” stressing “their adherence to the necessity of ending the aggression completely.”

The leader of the movement, preferring not to mention his name, said in statements to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, “A decision, such as concluding a deal with the enemy, must be taken with complete agreement between the resistance factions, as they are partners.”

He pointed out, "If there is no agreement from the first moment on a permanent ceasefire in any proposal, the guarantees surrounding that must be clear, and this is what is being agreed upon between the factions." He stressed, at the same time, that "there is no disagreement about this principle, and that what is currently taking place is further discussion to produce a response in the appropriate form, whether accepting or rejecting the presented offer, if it does not meet the aspirations of our people."

The leader of the movement believed that a delegation headed by Haniyeh would arrive in Cairo within a few days to discuss the offer, before announcing the official position, pointing out that the visit would take place during the current week.

The leader of the Hamas movement, Osama Hamdan, said the day before yesterday that “the discussion and consultation on the general framework proposal, which was circulated at the Paris Quartet meeting, is based on the negotiations reaching a complete end to the aggression, a complete withdrawal of Israeli army out of Gaza, and lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip, ensuring shelter for the displaced, reconstruction, completing a serious prisoner exchange deal, and practical international recognition of our people’s right to self-determination and establishing their independent, fully sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

Hamdan stressed, during a press conference from Beirut, that the movement “will be where the interest of our Palestinian people is,” noting that it is “in constant communication and consultation with all Palestinian resistance forces and factions, especially partners and comrades in the field and in arms.”

For his part, Deputy Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement, Muhammad al-Hindi, indicated in press statements that “the Paris meeting came to search for a way out of the war for Israel.” He said, "The talks during which came in twisted and unclear language about talking about a humanitarian truce leading to a ceasefire, but they did not talk about a complete ceasefire and ending the occupation." Al-Hindi confirmed that Netanyahu seeks to "snatch the Israeli prisoners from the hands of the resistance, so that Israel will continue its aggression against the Gaza Strip."

This comes as the Hamas movement announced, earlier, consultations that took place between the head of its political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, and the Secretary-General of the Islamic Jihad Movement, Ziad al-Nakhalah, as well as with the Deputy Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Jamil Mezher, during which “initiatives to end the aggression” were discussed.