Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated his firm intention that “there will be no Hamas” in Gaza following the conflict.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel had agreed to terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. He urged Hamas to accept the deal before the situation deteriorates further.
President Trump has been intensifying pressure on both the Israeli government and Hamas to negotiate a ceasefire and a deal for the release of hostages, aiming to bring an end to the ongoing war.
In a brief statement on Wednesday, Hamas acknowledged receiving a proposal from mediators. They indicated that they are in discussions with the mediators to “bridge gaps” and return to negotiations with the goal of reaching a ceasefire agreement.
Trump specified that the proposed 60-day pause would be utilized to work towards ending the war, a condition that Israel has repeatedly rejected until Hamas is defeated.
He suggested that an agreement could be reached as early as next week.
However, Hamas’s response, particularly its emphasis on the demand for a complete end to the war, casts doubt on the likelihood of the current offer translating into a tangible cessation of hostilities.
Hamas official Taher al-Nunu asserted that the group is “ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement.”
He emphasized that Hamas is “ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war.”
According to an Egyptian official, a Hamas delegation is scheduled to meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposed terms.
