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 intensi...
