Hamas has rejected an offer from Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza, a move that would have required the militant group to disarm, according to reports this past Tuesday. The ceasefire proposal, conveyed through Egypt, outlined a six-week truce in exchange for Hamas’s disarmament and the release of half of the hostages held by the group.
Israel's demand was clear: in return for the truce, they wanted Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza and disarm completely. But Hamas rejected the offer outright. A spokesperson from the terrorist group was quoted saying, “The proposal made no commitment from Israel to end the war or withdraw from Gaza, and Hamas will not accept such an offer.” Hamas has been firm in its stance, demanding that any deal must involve Israel's complete pullout from Gaza, alongside an end to the ongoing conflict.
For Israel, the goal has remained consistent throughout the war: dismantle Hamas's military infrastructure and its governance in Gaza. But for Hamas, the discussion of disarmament is non-negotiable. Despite this, Hamas has suggested that it could agree to relinquish control of Gaza to a transitional body of independent technocrats, an idea that gained some traction in a plan revealed by Egypt for Gaza's post-war reconstruction.
A senior official from one of the Arab mediating countries shared that no significant progress was expected in ceasefire talks. According to the official, “The same issues that have stymied a deal up until now are still in place.” This reflects the ongoing deadlock where both sides hold firm positions, leaving little room for compromise. An earlier statement from Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri reinforces this, declaring, “Handing over the weapons of resistance is absolutely off the table, not even open for discussion.”
In stark contrast to the rejection of disarmament, Hamas has indicated a willingness to release the hostages it holds, including Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American soldier. They’ve made it clear that they would be willing to release the hostages in a single batch, but only if Israel agrees to end the war and pull out from Gaza. This reflects a consistent demand from Hamas: the cessation of hostilities and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces before any further steps can be taken.
The situation is further complicated by the events of earlier this year. In January, both Israel and Hamas signed onto a phased ceasefire agreement, which ultimately fell apart. The first phase of the deal was completed, but Israel sought to change the terms during the second phase, which would have included the release of additional hostages. Hamas rejected these changes, leading Israel to resume its military offensive in March.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly maintained that the war will not end until Hamas’s military and governing structures in Gaza are entirely dismantled. His hardline stance has been backed by his coalition, which includes members who would potentially destabilize his government if he agreed to a ceasefire without achieving these goals. However, public opinion within Israel has shown a clear divide: while Netanyahu's government holds its line, polls consistently show that a majority of Israelis want the war to end, especially in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages.
Meanwhile, in a distressing development, Hamas claimed to have lost contact with the terrorists who were holding Edan Alexander. Hudhaifa Kahlout, known by his nom de guerre Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, said, “We’ve lost contact with the team guarding soldier Edan Alexander after a direct Israeli bombing hit their location. We’re still trying to reach them.” This claim came after an Israeli airstrike reportedly targeted the area, leading Hamas to accuse Israel of trying to eliminate the hostage in order to relieve pressure from the ongoing negotiations over dual-citizen prisoners.
Israel, for its part, has repeatedly emphasized that it does not target areas where hostages are believed to be held. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have assured that every airstrike and ground operation is meticulously planned to avoid endangering hostages. However, the IDF has acknowledged that some hostages may have been caught in airstrikes due to their proximity to military targets.
The hostage situation has added a layer of complexity to the conflict, with Edan Alexander, a dual US-Israeli citizen, now being the last American citizen held by Hamas. His captivity has become a focal point of US-mediated ceasefire negotiations, with US officials pushing for his release. US President Joe Biden’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, stressed that securing Alexander’s freedom was a top priority. Hamas had previously indicated it might release Alexander along with the bodies of four other dual US-Israeli citizens, but Israel rejected this as “manipulation and psychological warfare,” demanding the release of all hostages, not just Americans.
Hamas has since released two propaganda videos showing Alexander, with the most recent one aired on Saturday. In the video, a gaunt-looking Alexander claimed that he had been told he would be freed three weeks ago, but that the Israeli government, under Netanyahu, had refused to agree to the terms for his release. The statement, clearly influenced by his captors, highlights the psychological warfare aspect of this ongoing standoff.
On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed that Hamas will continue to face “blow after blow” from the IDF as long as it refuses to release the hostages. During a visit to soldiers stationed in the northern Gaza Strip, Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would not stop until Hamas was defeated. “We insist on the release of our hostages, and we will continue to press for our war aims,” Netanyahu told the troops, standing strong against what he described as “Iran’s support for Hamas,” referencing Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s repeated calls for the destruction of Israel.
Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed this sentiment, saying that Israel would not tolerate Hamas’s attempts to threaten its citizens. Katz made it clear that Israel’s military operations were designed to increase the pressure on Hamas to release the hostages. “The longer Hamas refuses to release the hostages, the more severe the blows will become,” Katz warned. Both Netanyahu and Katz were joined by high-ranking military officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, underscoring the seriousness of Israel’s position on this matter.
The future remains uncertain, with no immediate breakthrough in sight. Hamas’s continued refusal to disarm and its insistence on the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces make a resolution increasingly elusive. However, as the conflict drags on, it is clear that the stakes are high for both sides, with hostages’ lives hanging in the balance and the prospect of a long-term peace deal still far from reach.
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