Group says ready to discuss release of hostages in exchange for end to crisis

Palestinian group Hamas said it was ready to discuss the release of all hostages in exchange for an end to the crisis, a full Israeli withdrawal and the founding of an independent Palestinian committee to govern the enclave, after confirming on Sunday it had received "ideas" from the United States for ending the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

It came soon after United States President Donald Trump put forward a new proposal to end the crisis, saying Israel had accepted his terms.

In a social media post on Sunday, Trump said, "The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!"

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But the White House has not released any details about the proposal. Israel's Channel 12 reported that under the plan, Israel would cancel its offensive to capture Gaza City. All 48 hostages still held in Gaza would be freed on the first day of the truce in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Talks on ending the conflict would then begin under Trump's mediation, with the ceasefire remaining in place while negotiations continue.

The Palestinian movement said it had received "ideas" from the US side through mediators and welcomed any initiative aimed at halting the fighting.

"We affirm our immediate readiness to sit at the negotiation table to discuss the release of all prisoners in exchange for a clear declaration to end the war, the full withdrawal from Gaza, and the formation of a committee to manage Gaza from Palestinian independents, who will immediately begin their work," Hamas said in a statement.

Hamas also called for guarantees of Israel's "clear and explicit commitment" to any agreement, warning against a repeat of past deals it said were rejected or abandoned.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel was "seriously considering" the US proposal, but did not elaborate, Al Jazeera reported.

Continued bombing

On the ground, Israel pushed on with its assault on the Palestinian territory. Israeli army bombed a Gaza City residential tower on Sunday, bringing the number of buildings razed during its campaign announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seize the largest urban center in the Gaza Strip to at least 50. The attacks killed at least 60 people, said Gaza civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal.

Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting on Sunday that around 100,000 Palestinians had left Gaza City, accusing Hamas of trying to prevent evacuations and of using civilians as "human shields".

Amid international condemnation, Netanyahu admitted he is "aware of the price we are paying in the diplomatic and public relations theater".

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday announced nine measures aimed at stopping "the genocide in Gaza", including an arms embargo on Israel and a ban on vessels carrying fuel for the Israeli army from using Spanish ports.

The measures aim to "stop the genocide in Gaza, pursue its perpetrators and support the Palestinian population", Sanchez said in a televised address.

United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher warned on Sunday that there is a "narrow window" until the end of September to prevent famine from spreading further.

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In another development, at least six people were killed in a shooting attack at a bus stop in Jerusalem on Monday, Israeli authorities said.

Police said two assailants opened fire at a bus stop and then at a bus before security personnel and a civilian returned fire, killing the attackers at the scene.

Citing Israeli security officials, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news said the gunmen were Palestinians from the Ramallah Governorate in the occupied West Bank, armed with a handgun and an improvised submachine gun.

Hamas hailed the attack without claiming responsibility, calling it a "natural response to the occupation's crimes against our people".

Netanyahu visited the scene of the attack and said that Israel is "in a mighty war on terror on several fronts".

Xinhua and agencies contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at cuihaipei@chinadaily.com.cn