The Palestinian movement Hamas has indicated its willingness to accept an agreement that will release all hostages at once in exchange for a 5-year truce.
This comes as the UN World Food Program (WFP) warned that food stocks had run out as a result of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Five-year Truce
Speaking to Agence France Presse (AFP), a Hamas official said on Saturday that the Palestinian movement is pursuing an agreement to end the war in Gaza that would involve the one-time release of all remaining hostages and a five-year truce.
“Hamas is ready for an exchange of prisoners in a single batch and a truce for five years,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
New Ceasefire Talks
The statements came as a Hamas delegation traveled to Cairo to meet with mediators later in the day for discussions on Gaza ceasefire.
Hamas leader, Taher Al-Nono, confirmed that Hamas delegation, led by Khalil Al-Hayya, would meet Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss the Palestinian movement’s vision for a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Al-Nono stressed that Hamas’ arms are not up for negotiations, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.
Mediation Efforts
In an effort to end the war in Gaza, Egyptian and Qatari mediators have proposed a new formula including a 5-to-7-year truce, the release of all Israeli hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners, a formal end to the war, and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, BBC reported citing a senior Palestinian official.
Since the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel collapsed in March, mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the US have made several proposals to end the war, but negotiations stalled.
Hamas insists that a ceasefire agreement must guarantee a full Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, a prisoner exchange, and the immediate entry of humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, Israel demands the return of all hostages and the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza – a demand that Hamas rejects.
Gaza Aid Blockade
Israel has imposed a blockade on the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza since March 2 to pressure Hamas to release all the remaining hostages.
On Friday, the US President, Donald Trump, said that he pressed the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to allow food and medicine into the Strip, reported Reuters. Replying to questions about aid delivery to Gaza, Trump said that he discussed the matter with Netanyahu.
“Gaza came up and I said, ‘We’ve got to be good to Gaza … Those people are suffering,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “We’re going to take care of that. There’s a very big need for medicine, food and medicine, and we’re taking care of it,” he said, referring to opening up access points for aid into Gaza.
Critical Situation
On Friday, the UN WFP said that it had run out of food stocks in Gaza under the Israeli blockade. In a statement, it said it had delivered the last remaining food stocks to hot meal kitchens in Gaza, which are expected to run out of food in the coming days.
“No humanitarian or commercial supplies have entered Gaza for more than seven weeks as all main border crossing points remain closed. This is the longest closure the Gaza Strip has ever faced, exacerbating already fragile markets and food systems,” the statement noted.
“The situation inside the Gaza Strip has once again reached a breaking point: people are running out of ways to cope, and the fragile gains made during the short ceasefire have unraveled. Without urgent action to open borders for aid and trade to enter, WFP’s critical assistance may be forced to end,” it added.
The WFP urged all parties to abide by international humanitarian law and allow aid entry to the Strip. “WFP urges all parties to prioritize the needs of civilians and allow aid to enter Gaza immediately and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law,” the statement said.
