Hamas has expressed a willingness to negotiate an agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This plan would involve the release of all hostages and the establishment of a five-year truce, according to a statement from a Hamas official today, prior to talks with mediators.
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A delegation from Hamas is currently in Cairo engaging with Egyptian intermediaries to explore potential resolutions to the 18-month-long war. Meanwhile, on-the-ground rescuers reported that an Israeli airstrike on a family home in Gaza City tragically resulted in the deaths of at least ten individuals, with more feared trapped under the wreckage.
The Hamas official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated, “We are prepared for a prisoner exchange in a single batch and a truce for five years.” This dialogue follows an Israeli proposal that Hamas rejected earlier this month, labeling it as “partial” and instead advocating for a “comprehensive” agreement that would effectively cease the hostilities initiated by the group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Hamas has consistently asserted that any truce must equate to the termination of the war, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and an increase in humanitarian aid to the besieged region. Just yesterday, the United Nations raised alarms regarding dwindling food supplies in Gaza.
Simultaneously, Israel insists on the return of all hostages taken during the 2023 attack and demands Hamas’s disarmament, a stipulation that the group has firmly rejected as a “red line.” As the renewed Israeli offensive in Gaza continues for over a month, a Hamas official indicated earlier this week that their delegation in Cairo is discussing “new ideas” for a ceasefire.
“The house collapsed,” recounted Umm Walid al-Khour, a survivor of the recent attack in Gaza City. She detailed the horror of that fateful evening, saying, “Everyone was sleeping with their children when the strike hit.” Tragically, she added, “Most of the deceased were children.” The civil defense agency reported that a strike on Al-Khour family’s home resulted in ten fatalities, with an estimated twenty individuals still trapped beneath the rubble.
Elsewhere in the city, Israeli shelling claimed the lives of three more people in the Al-Shati refugee camp, according to civil defense official Mohammed al-Mughayyir. Additionally, further airstrikes across Gaza led to four more casualties. At the time of reporting, there had been no immediate comment from the Israeli military regarding these incidents.
A truce brokered by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt had initially taken effect on January 19, which allowed for increased humanitarian aid and the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. However, this agreement fell apart amid disputes over the subsequent terms, leading Israel to recommence its bombardment of Gaza on March 18, followed by a ground offensive.
Since the conflict reignited, at least 2,111 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, raising the overall death toll in Gaza to a staggering 51,495 individuals. The initial attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, was a pivotal moment that resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, predominantly civilians, according to counts based on official Israeli figures. In this context, it is crucial to note that Hamas militants also abducted 251 individuals, with 58 of those still being held in Gaza; Israeli military estimates indicate that 34 of these captives may already be deceased.
Israel maintains that its renewed military campaign is aimed at compelling Hamas to release the remaining hostages.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring
