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Hamas has expressed openness to reaching a peace agreement to conclude the ongoing conflict in Gaza, a commitment that entails the release of all hostages and the establishment of a five-year ceasefire, as stated by a group official on Saturday prior to discussions with mediators.
A delegation from Hamas is currently in Cairo engaging with Egyptian mediators to explore potential solutions to the conflict, which has been ongoing for 18 months. On the ground, recent reports indicate that an Israeli airstrike targeting a residential building in Gaza City resulted in at least 10 fatalities, with rescuers fearing that more individuals may be trapped beneath the debris.
Speaking anonymously to AFP, the Hamas representative noted that the organization is prepared for a prisoner swap in a single arrangement alongside a five-year truce.
This latest initiative for a ceasefire comes after Hamas previously dismissed an Israeli suggestion as “partial,” advocating instead for a “comprehensive” settlement to end a conflict that escalated following their October 7, 2023, assault on Israel.
The Israeli proposition included a 45-day cessation of hostilities in return for the release of 10 hostages, a proposal Hamas has declined.
Hamas insists that any agreement must culminate in a full cessation of hostilities, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and an increase in humanitarian assistance to the beleaguered enclave, where officials from the United Nations recently cautioned that food supplies were nearing depletion.
Conversely, Israel is demanding the return of all hostages captured during the October 7 attack and the disarmament of Hamas, a demand that the militant group considers non-negotiable.
More than a month into Israel’s renewed military operations in Gaza, following a temporary ceasefire of two months, a Hamas official indicated that the Cairo delegation would be bringing forth “new ideas” related to a truce.
– ‘The house collapsed’ –
In Gaza City, the civil defense agency reported that an Israeli strike targeted the Al-Khour family residence, resulting in 10 deaths, with estimates suggesting that around 20 additional individuals might be trapped under the rubble.
Survivor Umm Walid al-Khour recounted the harrowing experience, stating that “everyone was sleeping with their children” when the attack occurred.
“The house collapsed on top of us,” she recounted, adding, “Those who survived cried for help, but nobody came… Most of the deceased were children.”
In another incident, shelling in the Al-Shati refugee camp resulted in three additional casualties, according to civil defense official Mohammed al-Mughayyir.
Overall, further strikes throughout Gaza claimed the lives of four others.
The Israeli military has not provided immediate comments regarding these attacks.
A previous ceasefire facilitated by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt began on January 19, allowing for a crucial influx of aid and the exchange of hostages and Palestinian detainees. However, this arrangement deteriorated due to disagreements over subsequent terms.
After halting aid during a standstill in talks, Israel resumed its air strikes on Gaza on March 18, leading to escalated ground operations.
– Low on food, medical supplies –
Since the resumption of hostilities, the health ministry in the Hamas-governed region reported that at least 2,111 Palestinians have died, bringing the total death toll during the conflict to 51,495.
The initial Hamas assault on October 7, which sparked the current war, led to the deaths of 1,218 individuals, predominantly civilians, based on an AFP compilation using official Israeli data.
The attack also resulted in the abduction of 251 individuals, with 58 still unaccounted for in Gaza, including 34 that the Israeli military asserts have died.
Israel maintains that its intensified military offensive intends to compel Hamas to release the remaining captives.
On Friday, the World Food Programme (WFP), a principal supplier of food aid in the Palestinian territories, announced that it had delivered its last stockpiles to community kitchens in Gaza, which are expected to deplete their supplies shortly.
In response to these conditions, the WHO’s director highlighted that medical resources are also in critically short supply in Gaza, with numerous trucks awaiting permission to deliver aid.
“This aid blockade must end. Lives depend on it,” declared Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X.
Despite persistent warnings from humanitarian organizations and international bodies, Israel has contended that there is no critical hunger situation in Gaza, asserting that the blockade on aid is designed to exert pressure on Hamas for the release of hostages.
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