Hamas Open to Talks on Ceasefire, But Demands Full War Termination, Amidst Trump Proposal

Hamas has expressed openness to a ceasefire with Israel. However, the group has not yet accepted the US-backed proposal, stressing that the war must end entirely. Former President Donald Trump announced that Israel agreed to a 60-day ceasefire and called on Hamas to accept. Hamas’s response reiterated their stance, causing some doubt about the potential for a truce. According to a Hamas official, the group is prepared to consider any proposal that completely ends the war. An official meeting between Hamas and Egyptian and Qatari mediators was organized in Cairo. Negotiations have been repeatedly hindered by disagreements between Israel and Hamas over the war’s conclusion. Hamas wants Israel to withdraw fully, end the war, and release hostages. Israel demands Hamas’s surrender and disarmament. The current proposal includes a limited Israeli withdrawal and increased aid. Trump has emphasized the need for Hamas to agree to the deal. The war has caused extreme damage in Gaza, including the deaths of civilians. The war began on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. This has caused vast destruction and a major humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with many residents displaced and facing hunger.