By Kabiru Abdulrauf.
The latest attempt to broker a ceasefire in Gaza has collapsed, as Hamas officially rejected Israel’s proposal for a 45-day truce in exchange for the release of 10 hostages. In a firm video statement, senior Hamas official and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya stated that the group would not entertain “partial deals” that serve Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “political agenda.”
Al-Hayya emphasized that Hamas is willing to negotiate a comprehensive deal to release all remaining hostages—59 in total, of whom only 24 are believed to be alive—in return for an end to the war and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
“Netanyahu and his government use partial agreements as a cover for their political agenda, which is based on continuing the war of extermination and starvation,” said al-Hayya. “We are ready to immediately negotiate a full exchange deal.”
The rejection came amid intensified Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. At least 37 people, many of them displaced civilians in a tent camp, were killed in the latest bombardment, according to the Hamas-run civil defence agency. Witnesses in al-Mawasi described the horror as tents caught fire following a powerful explosion.
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the rejection with incendiary rhetoric, declaring it was time “to open the gates of hell” on Hamas.
Despite earlier signals that talks were progressing, the gulf between both sides appears wider than ever. While Hamas demands a complete end to hostilities, Israel remains committed to its goal of the full dismantling of the group—designated a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, and several other countries.
As the conflict drags on, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with severe shortages of food, water, and medical aid, and rising civilian casualties.
