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Hamas Open to Agreement for Gaza Truce and Hostage Exchange
Hamas offers a proposal for a five-year truce and a one-time exchange of all remaining hostages, as discussions continue with mediators in Cairo.
ND
by News Desk
2025-04-26
Hamas Open to Agreement for Gaza Truce and Hostage Exchange

Hamas has expressed openness to an agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which would include the one-time release of all remaining hostages and a five-year cessation of hostilities, according to an official from the Palestinian group. The statement, made on Saturday, marks a significant development in the ongoing discussions between Hamas and mediators.

“Hamas is ready for an exchange of prisoners in a single batch and a truce for five years,” the anonymous official told AFP, as a delegation from Hamas was scheduled to meet with international mediators in Cairo. This proposal suggests a longer-term ceasefire, which is a notable shift in the group's position.

In April, Hamas had rejected an Israeli proposal for a 45-day truce in exchange for the return of 10 living hostages, with the group emphasizing that any truce agreement must lead to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, a prisoner exchange, and the immediate and sufficient entry of humanitarian aid into the war-torn region.

For its part, Israel demands the return of all hostages, which were taken during the surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Israel also insists on the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, a condition that is a "red line" for the Palestinian group.

The conflict was triggered by the unprecedented Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count. The attack also led to the taking of 251 hostages, of whom 58 are still held in Gaza. A truce earlier this year from January 19 to March 17 allowed for the release of 33 hostages, including eight deceased, in exchange for the release of around 1,800 Palestinians from Israeli prisons.

Since the resumption of Israeli military operations in Gaza on March 18, at least 2,062 Palestinians have been killed, bringing the total death toll in Gaza to 51,439 since the start of the conflict, according to figures from the enclave's health ministry.

The latest proposal by Hamas offers hope for a potential resolution to the conflict, although significant obstacles remain. While both sides continue to negotiate, the road to peace remains fraught with challenges, with no clear indication of when or if a comprehensive agreement will be reached.
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Hamas

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GazaTruce

IsraelConflict

MiddleEastPeace

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