Hamas Open to Hostage Deal and Gaza War Resolution Without Ceasefire

In a significant development, a top Hamas official revealed on Sunday that the Palestinian militant group is willing to engage in discussions about a hostage deal and a resolution to the Gaza war without insisting on a “complete and permanent ceasefire.” 

This shift in Hamas’s stance comes amidst renewed mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt aimed at bringing an end to nine months of conflict and securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and prisoners detained by Israel.

Previously, Hamas had maintained that any negotiations with Israel would require a complete and permanent ceasefire. 

However, the official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, indicated that this demand had been relaxed. 

"This step was by-passed, as the mediators pledged that as long as the prisoner negotiations continued, the ceasefire would continue," he explained.

This easing of Hamas’s position has come at a critical juncture, with multiple international actors intensifying their mediation efforts. 

US President Joe Biden had earlier outlined a plan on May 31, proposed by Israel, which promised "a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages." 

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on the other hand, has firmly focused on the destruction of Hamas and the return of all hostages as the primary objectives of Israel’s military campaign, initiated after the October 7 attacks.

Amid these developments, an Israeli negotiator traveled to Doha for discussions with mediators last Friday. 

Although gaps remain in the counter-proposals made by Hamas, the negotiator is expected to return to Doha this week for further talks. 

Notably, US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns is also scheduled to visit Qatar to support these mediation efforts.

Egypt and Turkey are set to enhance their diplomatic efforts in the coming days, aiming to facilitate a comprehensive accord. 

Should full-scale negotiations commence, Hamas anticipates that the process could take between two to three weeks.

Biden’s plan proposes an initial six-week truce, which would involve an Israeli withdrawal from populated areas of the Gaza Strip and an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for some of the hostages taken on October 7. 

The Hamas official emphasized that, should a ceasefire be initiated, the group would seek the entry of up to 400 trucks of aid per day into the besieged Palestinian territory.

The conflict, which erupted with Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, has resulted in significant casualties. 

According to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures, 1,195 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the initial attack, and Hamas captured 251 hostages. 

Israeli military estimates indicate that 116 hostages remain in Gaza, with 42 believed to be deceased. 

In response, Israel’s retaliatory offensive has led to the deaths of at least 38,153 people in Gaza, predominantly civilians, as reported by the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

As international mediation intensifies, the possibility of a resolution to the Gaza war without a complete and permanent ceasefire marks a notable shift in the dynamics of the conflict, offering a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough in the protracted and devastating hostilities.