Middle East Crisis> Israel and Hamas Signal Openness to Cease-Fire Plan, but Stop Short of Accepting It

Israel and Hamas signaled openness to a cease-fire plan proposed by Egypt, but neither side has yet accepted the plan in full, raising questions about whether a lasting truce can be reached to end the latest round of violence in the Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian plan, which was announced on Tuesday, calls for a cease-fire to take effect at 10 p.m. local time on Friday, followed by negotiations on a long-term truce. The plan also calls for the opening of border crossings into Gaza, the release of prisoners, and the reconstruction of the territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he would consider the Egyptian proposal, but added that Israel would continue to strike Hamas targets if rocket fire from Gaza continued.

“We are not indifferent to the suffering of the people of Gaza, but we are not indifferent to the security of our people either,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “We will continue to take whatever steps are necessary to protect our citizens.”

Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls Gaza, has not yet officially responded to the Egyptian plan, but senior officials have indicated that they are open to a cease-fire.

“We are ready for a cease-fire, but we want it to be based on the principles of the resistance,” said Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, according to the Associated Press. “We want the siege on Gaza to be lifted, and we want the Palestinian prisoners to be released.”

The latest round of violence began on May 10, when clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem escalated into widespread violence. Since then, more than 200 Palestinians, including dozens of children, have been killed in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. At least 12 people have been killed in Israel, including two children.

The violence has raised concerns about the potential for a wider conflict in the region, with Iran and Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group based in Lebanon, threatening to intervene on behalf of the Palestinians.