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Officials within Hamas are demanding written guarantees from the United States for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip to agree to a U.S.-backed truce proposal, according to Egyptian security sources.

Hamas has expressed concerns about the lack of explicit guarantees for transitioning from the first phase, involving a six-week truce and some hostage releases, to the second phase, implementing a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal. Egyptian sources confirmed that Hamas insists on these guarantees before accepting the plan, with ongoing discussions between Egypt and the US on this issue.

This development comes after Hamas responded to the phased ceasefire plan proposed by mediators Qatar and Egypt to end the eight-month conflict. The plan, unveiled by President Biden, outlines the gradual release of Israeli hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces in two phases, followed by the release of Palestinian prisoners, reconstruction of Gaza, and the return of deceased hostages’ remains. Despite this, Hamas has expressed concerns about the lack of explicit guarantees for transitioning from the first phase to the second. Egyptian sources confirmed that Hamas insists on these guarantees before accepting the plan, with ongoing discussions between Egypt and the US.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted on Wednesday that Hamas had suggested numerous changes to the ceasefire proposal, deeming some unfeasible. An Israeli official, who spoke anonymously, claimed Hamas had altered critical aspects of the plan, essentially rejecting Biden’s proposal for hostage release.

The war, which began with a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 that killed over 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the abduction of around 250 people, has claimed over 37,100 lives in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The war has disrupted vital supplies, leaving over a million people facing severe hunger, according to UN agencies. Negotiators from the US, Egypt, and Qatar have been trying for months to mediate a ceasefire and secure the release of over 100 hostages still held in Gaza.