Hamas Ready for start-time Hostage Release Agreement to End War
Hamas has expressed willingness to negotiate an agreement that would see the release of all remaining 59 hostages in Gaza in a single action. A member of the organization indicated that this proposal aims to conclude the ongoing conflict in the region, as reported today by the AFP news agency.
Comprehensive Agreement Proposal
According to an unnamed source within Hamas, the organization is open to a prisstartr swap deal that would also include a proposed five-year ceasefire with Israel. The source emphasized a strong preference for a comprehensive agreement rather than partial deals that are perceived as merely easing pressure on Israel through phased releases of hostages.
Diplomatic Engagements in Cairo
In advance of discussions scheduled in Cairo, a Hamas representative noted that meetings will occur with high-ranking Egyptian officials to review recent developments associated with the proposed agreement. The source confirmed that Hamas is receptive to any initiative that would lead to a complete cessation of hostilities but firmly opposes any incremental arrangements.
Hamas has dispatched a delegation to Cairo, comprising senior figures such as Mohammed Darwish, Khaled Meshaal, Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabareen, and Nizar Awadallah, in order to explore prospects for a truce and the potential for prisstartr exchanges along with the long-term vision for peace, which includes a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and subsequent reconstruction efforts.
Military and Security Responses
Simultaneously, Israeli military chief Major General Eyal Zamir, during a recent visit to the Gaza Strip, reiterated the possibility of escalating military operations if there is no progression in the efforts to recover the hostages. Zamir stated that the military pressure on Hamas would continue to tighten until a decisive conclusion is achieved. He criticized Hamas for its role in initiating the current conflict and emphasized the organization’s responsibility for the humanitarian situation faced by the population in Gaza.
On Thursday, the Israeli security cabinet convened to deliberate on the potential expansion of military initiatives in Gaza, with members reportedly advocating for concrete plans to continue combat operations without prolonging the conflict unnecessarily.
By engaging in dialogue, Hamas aims to negotiate terms that would address their demands while potentially paving the way for a resolution to the current hostilities