Hamas is calling for a comprehensive agreement to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, a senior official from the group said Friday, rejecting Israel’s latest proposal for a temporary truce.
Khalil Al-Hayya, the group’s chief negotiator in Gaza, said in a video statement that Hamas would no longer accept partial or interim deals. The most recent Israeli offer reportedly included a 45-day ceasefire, the release of 10 Israeli hostages, and the freeing of 120 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, along with over 1,000 detainees arrested since October 7, 2023. In exchange, Israel demanded that Hamas disarm—an ultimatum the group has flatly refused.
“These partial deals are used by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his government to serve their political agenda, which is centered on continuing the war and siege—even if it means sacrificing their own hostages,” Hayya said.
He added that Hamas is ready to negotiate “immediately” for a full-scale prisoner exchange deal—one that would end the war, secure the release of Palestinians in Israeli custody, and launch Gaza’s reconstruction.
According to Israeli authorities, 59 hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza, with 24 confirmed alive. Several others have been released through earlier ceasefire arrangements or separate deals.
Following the collapse of a previous truce and stalled negotiations last month, Israeli forces have resumed a major offensive and now control over half of Gaza. The IDF has intensified airstrikes in an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining captives.
Peace talks held Monday in Cairo aimed at reviving the January ceasefire and freeing hostages ended without any breakthrough, according to Palestinian and Egyptian sources cited by Reuters.
Israel maintains that its main objective is the full disarmament and dismantling of Hamas.
Meanwhile, airstrikes in Gaza continue to take a heavy toll. On Thursday alone, at least 37 people were reportedly killed in Israeli strikes, most of them displaced civilians sheltering in tent camps, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defense agency.
The Israeli military said it had conducted over 100 airstrikes in the past 48 hours, targeting what it described as “terrorist cells, military sites, and infrastructure.”
While Israeli officials insist there is no shortage of aid in Gaza and have defended the ongoing blockade, the United Nations warned Monday that the enclave is now facing its worst humanitarian crisis since the conflict began.
