Hamas seeks a comprehensive peace agreement, rejecting any “partial” deals, in exchange for a full hostage release and an end to the Gaza war.
A high-ranking Hamas official stated the group desires a complete agreement to end the Gaza conflict, proposing an exchange of all Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. This stance rejects Israel’s proposal for another temporary ceasefire.
Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’ Gaza chief negotiator, announced in a video statement that the group will no longer accept interim agreements. The latest Israeli proposal included a 45-day truce and the release of ten hostages. In return, Israel would free 120 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and over 1,000 detainees held since October 7, 2023. The proposal required Hamas to disarm to completely end the war – a condition Hamas refuses.
“Netanyahu and his government exploit partial agreements to further their political agenda, which is based on continuing the genocidal war and siege, even at the cost of sacrificing their own prisoners [hostages],” Hayya stated.
He affirmed Hamas’s readiness to immediately negotiate a deal to exchange all hostages for an end to the Gaza war, the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and the rebuilding of Gaza.
Israeli authorities report that 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with 24 believed to be alive. Dozens have been previously released through ceasefires or separate agreements.
Following the collapse of a ceasefire and stalled hostage negotiations last month, Israeli forces have regained control of more than half of Gaza in a renewed offensive. The IDF has resumed air strikes in Gaza aimed at pressuring Hamas to release the remaining hostages.
Recent talks in Cairo on Monday to revive the January ceasefire and free Israeli hostages concluded without a clear breakthrough, according to Reuters, citing Palestinian and Egyptian sources.
Israel has stated that its primary objective is the complete disarmament and elimination of Hamas.
Meanwhile, airstrikes continue to result in numerous deaths in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run civil defense agency in Gaza, Israeli strikes on Thursday killed at least 37 people, mostly displaced civilians sheltering in a tent camp.
The Israeli military reported conducting strikes on over 100 “terror targets” in the past two days, including alleged “terrorist cells, military structures, and infrastructure sites.”
While Israel maintains there is no shortage of aid and defended the blockade imposed on Gaza in March, the UN warned on Monday that Gaza faces its most severe humanitarian crisis since the start of the conflict.
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