According to a statement from the Palestinian party that rules Gaza, Hamas declared on Thursday that it has notified mediators that it is prepared to strike a “full agreement,” including a thorough arrangement to exchange prisoners for hostages, provided Israel halts its war in the Gaza Strip.
In all previous rounds of indirect negotiations, Hamas claimed to have responded positively and with flexibility to the mediators’ efforts; however, Israel claimed that these discussions were “as a cover for the continuation of aggression” against the Palestinian people, citing military actions in Rafah and the crossing’s seizure as proof.
Hamas and other Palestinian factions will not accept to be part of this policy by continuing negotiations in light of “aggression, killing, siege, starvation and genocide of our people,” it added.
Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Tuesday that Israel had handed over a document with the Israeli proposal to Qatar and Egypt to resume negotiations for the exchange of detainees with Hamas and a ceasefire in Gaza.
Following Israel’s strike on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, the most recent round of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which Egypt had hosted for two days earlier this month, came to a standstill.
The desire for a deal by Hamas emerged as violence in Rafah city persisted in spite of widespread condemnation of the Israeli attack.
In response to a Hamas rampage along the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which approximately 1,200 people were killed and over 200 were held hostage, Israel launched a massive attack against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
