Hamas Signals Willingness for Ceasefire if Israel Withdraws Troops and Releases Prisoners

Gaza City, April 18 Amid relentless Israeli military operations in Gaza, Hamas has put forward a significant new proposal for ending the conflict. The militant Palestinian group announced it is ready to halt the war if two main conditions are met: a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners. In exchange, Hamas has offered to release Israeli hostages.

Hamas Senior Official Issues Proposal

Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, outlined the proposal on Thursday night during a televised address. He emphasized that if an agreement is reached on these terms, the ongoing conflict, which has stretched for more than a year and a half, could come to an end.

However, al-Hayya clarified that Hamas would not accept Israel’s previous demand for a total disarmament of the group as a condition for any ceasefire. Israel, in recent negotiations, had suggested a 45-day temporary ceasefire but insisted that Hamas must lay down all arms—a condition Hamas has categorically rejected.

Israel Yet to Respond

As of now, the Israeli government has not issued an official response to the latest proposal from Hamas. The prospect of a ceasefire that does not involve Hamas disarming could be a sticking point in ongoing talks.

This development comes at a critical juncture in the Gaza conflict, with international pressure mounting for a lasting peace deal and the humanitarian situation in Gaza remaining dire.

The coming days will be crucial in determining whether these renewed talks can bring about a long-awaited end to hostilities in the region.